EKF Diagnostics has been granted a patent for a water-free system that beneficiates fine iron ore particles. The system utilizes a triboelectric electrostatic belt-type separator and air classification devices to process particles under 75 microns, producing an iron-rich concentrate through a completely dry method. GlobalData’s report on EKF Diagnostics gives a 360-degree view of the company including its patenting strategy. Buy the report here.

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According to GlobalData’s company profile on EKF Diagnostics, was a key innovation area identified from patents. EKF Diagnostics's grant share as of June 2024 was 59%. Grant share is based on the ratio of number of grants to total number of patents.

Dry beneficiation system for fine iron ore particles

Source: United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Credit: EKF Diagnostics Holdings Plc

The granted patent US11998930B2 outlines a novel system for the beneficiation of fine and very fine particles of iron ore, emphasizing a dry metallurgical route that does not require water addition. The system includes at least one air classification device designed to process a feed stream of particles, concentrating the finest particles to produce an output stream with a median particle size (d50) of less than 75 microns. This output is then processed by a triboelectric electrostatic belt separator (BSS) to generate an iron-rich concentrate. Additional components such as a dryer and de-agglomeration system may be included to ensure the feed stream has a moisture content of less than 2%, enhancing the efficiency of the classification and separation processes.

Further claims detail the system's flexibility, allowing for multiple air classification devices and BSS units to optimize the recovery of iron minerals while managing coarser and finer fractions of material. The system can handle various types of iron ore, including hematite, goethite, and magnetite, and is capable of processing low-grade iron rejects through a scavenging configuration to yield sellable iron concentrates. The patent also specifies the potential for enriched fractions of clay minerals to be collected, indicating a comprehensive approach to mineral processing that maximizes resource recovery while minimizing water usage.

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GlobalData Patent Analytics tracks bibliographic data, legal events data, point in time patent ownerships, and backward and forward citations from global patenting offices. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.