| 摘要 |
An improved process for separating sulfur from low grade surface ore is disclosed. The process involves mixing small particles of sulfur ore with a dilute aqueous solution of an agent to form a slurry. The agent used should be capable of combining with the gangue constituent of the sulfur ore particles such that the overall density of the combination of agent and gangue is substantially less than the density of the aqueous solution. The slurry is heated to a temperature under pressure so as to liquefy the sulfur and yet maintain substantially all of the water in liquid form. The slurry is agitated while heated, forming a dispersion of small sulfur droplets in the aqueous medium. The presence of the dilute agent allows the mixture to settle by gravity to form a molten sulfur phase and an aqueous gangue phase. The sulfur product is recovered as a single continuous phase of molten sulfur. Suitable agents include the disodium salt of ethylene diamine-tetraacetic acid, alkyl-benzene-sulfonate, sodium bicarbonate, magnesium sulfate, sodium chloride, the salts found in sea water and polyphosphates.
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