(under subclass 162) Methods and means wherein material is delivered to the surface of a body of liquid, generally water or an aqueous solution, part of the material breaking through the surface and another part not breaking through, but floating, upon the surface.
(1) Note. In cases coming into this subclass the separation depends generally upon different capabilities of the components of the material for being surface wetted, those that are wetted sinking, while those that are not wetted during the period of contact allowed, float. The separation is independent ordinarily of specific gravities of the components. The subclass will include cases where the material is treated to modify the wetting susceptibilities of some of the components, as by coating with a film or oil, etc., as well as those in which the natural susceptibilities are depended upon.
