ELECTRIC
PULSE
DISAGGREGATION
Electron micrographs of mineral grains and fossils separated using Electric Pulse Disaggregation
Electric Pulse Disaggregation (EPD) departs from traditional methods of rock comminution by preferentially fracturing rock along natural grain boundaries. This process offers the following benefits to mineralogy and fossil preparation laboratories:
- Preserves mineral grain morphology
- Reduces the production of fines/slimes
- Preserves natural grain size distribution
- Allows concentration of target mineral fractions by seiving
Pulsed power involves the precise release of ultra short, high power bursts of electrical energy. When a sufficiently powerful pulse of electrical energy is conducted through rock, plasma streamers are formed which tend to propagate along mineral grain boundaries. These streamers create high internal tensile stresses which tend to fracture materials along grain boundaries.
Scientific aspects of this technology were pursued with Dr. Paul Weiblen of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis and with Dr. N.S. Rudashevsky of Mechanobr Technical Corporation in St. Petersburg, Russia.
Commercial application of EPD was being pursued by Aerie Partners, Inc. of San Diego, California (now defunct).
On the following pages, are a few examples of the use of Electric Pulse Disaggregation as a mineral and fossil separation tool.
Click here to see an abstract on the use of Electric Pulse Disaggregation for fossil separation.
Click here to see the text of a paper on the use of Electric Pulse Disaggregation for fossil separation.
For more information on Electric Pulse Disaggregation, contact
Bernhardt Saini-Eidukat
Dept. of Geosciences
North Dakota State Univerity
Fargo ND 58105-5517
tel. 701-231-8785 fax 701-231-7149
email:
bernhardt.saini-eidukat@ndsu.nodak.edu
NDSU Geosciences Home Page | Pulsed Power Disaggregation Page | email for information
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