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By M. R. MacIver, M. Pawlik, S. Finora, H. Alizadeh

The dispersion of mature fine oil sands tailings (MFT) by the addition of sodium lignosulfonate was studied using contact angle measurements, optical scattering, and particle size measurements. Lignosulfonate caused the release of residual bitumen to the slurry surface and settlement of fines. Dynamic contact angle by captive bubble measurements were carried out on bitumen to determine the effect of the dispersant on the wettability of bitumen. Lignosulfonate caused a change in the aggregation state of the MFT and increased sedimentation of particles, as indicated by optical scattering measurements. Zeta potential measurements indicate that this change was caused by an increase in adsorption of lignosulfonate onto particles, which caused improved settling of the colloid. Ultraviolet Visible (UV) spectrophotometry and organic carbon content measurements showed that only a small amount of the reagent remains in the aqueous phase of the tailings, which is critical for decontamination of recycled water. Keywords: Oil sands tailings, bitumen recovery, dewatering, dispersion, surface chemistry

Jan 1, 2020

By M. S. Shishvan, S. Klerkx, J. Sattarvand

The inaccurately drilled blastholes from the planned locations cause changes in the spatial distribution of explosive energy; some areas of the blast may receive a surplus of explosive energy, while others see a reduction. This results in less uniform fragmentation, reduces the efficiency of mining operations and increases costs. Additionally, it can lead to slope stability issues, flyrock, and uneven benches. To mitigate these problems, this study attempts to reduce differences in the explosive energy distribution (EED) through an optimization approach that adjusts the height of explosive columns in blastholes. Two optimization algorithms, the Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Tabu Search (TS), are tested. The latter is preferred for its local search neighbourhood strategy that gives superior computation times. Applications on different blast patterns result in improvements of 0.53–1.54%, or 2.14–3.94% when only the affected blocks are considered.

Sep 1, 2021

By F. Mwaura

"The aim of the audit was to determine whether the mining project environmental impact assessments (EIAs) in Kenya are undertaken according to international best practice. A sample of 50 EIA reports for the 2007–2016 period was evaluated using 18 criteria in the Environmental Law Alliance Worldwide (ELAW) guidelines. The findings showed that only two criteria were considered ‘excellent’ according to the ELAW guidelines, namely baseline environmental assessment and prediction of physical impacts. Six criteria were found to be ‘satisfactory’, including prediction of social impacts, analysis of alternative options, and impact mitigation. The reports were quite weak in terms of: consideration of all phases in the mining cycle, environmental regulatory framework, prediction of biological impacts, stakeholder consultation and engagement, integration of human right issues, and integration of climate change and cost-benefit analysis. It is therefore recommended that the Kenyan National Environment Management Authority (NEMA) should consider tightening the EIA terms and conditions in the approval of statutory terms of reference (ToR) for full-scale mining EIAs to ensure improved performance of EIA as a tool for environmental protection. IntroductionThe nexus between society and the environment has continued to generate interest because the environment is the source of goods and services that sustain the various needs of human beings as outlined in the UN sustainable development goals (SDGs) (Armstrong and Peart, 2000; Sutton 2004; Chakrabarti 2007; Strange and Bayley 2008). All the five generic categories of societal needs, namely physiological needs (food, water, clothing, medicines, etc.), residential and occupational needs (shelter, transport, energy, etc.), economic needs (tradeable goods and services), leisure and recreational needs (tourism), and cultural and spiritual needs (e.g. sacred resources and ecosystems) (Mwaura et al. 2016) are addressed by the environment. Consequently, a wide range of development sectors have been established around the world in order to address the above needs (Lederer, Galtung, and Antal, 1980; Rammelsberg et al., 2006; Noonan, 2014). All these development sectors rely entirely on the environment for their proper functioning, as shown in Table I."

May 1, 2019

By K. Woodward, Y. Potvin, B. McFadyen, M. Grenon

Open stoping has become a popular mining method in hard rock mines, not only due to the safety of the method as a non-entry approach, but also because of the high extraction rate and low costs. At mine sites, stope performance is evaluated by calculating stope overbreak using the stability chart. However, limitations of the stability chart regarding the precision of the predictions, nonconsideration of factors such as the influence of blasting, and the exclusion of underbreak have led to non-optimal designs. The capabilities of today's computers have increased the amount of data being collected and the power of models being built. This article presents a step towards a new stope design approach where stope overbreak and underbreak are measured and georeferenced using octrees at an approximately cubic metre resolution and predicted using multivariate statistical models (partial least square, linear discriminant analysis, and random forest). Results show that overbreak and underbreak location along the design surface and their magnitude are predicted with good precision using a random forest model. These predictions are used to build the expected geometry of the open stope. The resolution of the data and the use of multivariate analysis has enabled the prediction of variation in stope performance along the design surface, going well beyond the simple qualitative per stope face prediction provided by a traditional stability chart approach.

Jun 5, 2023

By L. A. Cisternas, R. I. Jeldres, D. Calisaya

"Flotation of copper-molybdenum sulphide ores in seawater entails critical challenges such as selective recovery of molybdenite, effective pyrite depression, and reducing the lime addition required to reach highly alkaline conditions. It is essential that laboratory flotation tests aimed at solving these problems give reliable, reproducible results and indicate the correct approach for industrial operations. Rougher flotation of coppermolybdenum sulphide ores in seawater was investigated using two different cells: a modified Denver cell and a standard commercial cell. The effect of an organic reagent on the flotation performance was tested, and the fast/slow-floating model was used to describe the results. The modified Denver cell significantly improved the reproducibility of the flotation test results, due to technological enhancements such as the impeller being driven from below without a stator, which enables the whole froth surface to be scraped with a paddle at a constant depth and rate. Organic reagents are a promising alternative to inorganic reagents for depressing pyrite in seawater. However, further studies should be conducted to investigate their impact on molybdenite recovery, as well as to evaluate the possibility of depressing pyrite after molybdenite separation. The fast/slow-floating model was found to be appropriate for describing the flotation kinetics of the copper-molybdenum ores. The parameters are useful for comparing the performance at different conditions. IntroductionOwing to the increasing scarcity of fresh water, the use of seawater mining and mineral processing is becoming increasingly important (Cisternas and Moreno, 2014). Seawater can be desalinated by reverse osmosis, but this involves considerable costs, limiting it to the big mining companies (Akgul et al., 2008; Leidner et al., 2012; Ghaffour, Missimer, and Amy, 2013). Furthermore, desalination has environmental consequences (Lee, Arnot, and Mattia, 2011); for example, a desalination plant designed to process 2.5 m3/s requires an electrical energy supply of around 30 MJ/s. To supply this power demand, a thermoelectric plant burning bituminous/sub-bituminous coal mixtures at a thermal power generation efficiency of 35% might release around 1200– 1500 t of CO2 per day. Furthermore, the effluents from desalination plants are typically discharged into the sea, and their high temperature and ionic content inevitably modifies the marine environment, with unknown consequences. The direct use of seawater is, therefore, more attractive, but it also poses major challenges since seawater contains ions that adversely affect mineral recoveries. In particular, in the flotation of sulphide ores in seawater, the floatability of molybdenite is depressed (Castro, 2012; Laskowski, Castro, and Ramos, 2014)."

Jan 1, 2017

By P. K. Jain

A spiral concentrator is a density separation device used for the beneficiation of coal and various minerals such as iron ore, chromite ore, gold, beach sand minerals etc. The flow pattern developed in the equipment is complex and unique, yet the operation is very simple, with low capital and operating expenditure. Spirals are applied for beneficiation of material in the size range finer than 2 mm and are capable of recovering heavy minerals as fine as .01 mm. The understanding of the unique flow pattern has kept researchers engaged over the last few decades and attempts are being made to explain such flow patterns so that they can be controlled and modified to improve the operating efficiency, Ep (Ecart Probable Error, also known as probable error in separation) and acceptability of spiral concentrators for processing of fines and slimes - currently being discarded and dumped in the tailing ponds. An attempt has been made in this paper to explain the generation of complex flow patterns with application to classical solid mechanics in the fluid and slurry system. The same has been used to explain the selective separation of particles in different zones in a cross-section on the spiral trough. The paper also discusses the application of a force balance model to explain the generation of secondary circulation. Due to the presence of laminar and turbulent flow regimes in the spiral concentrator, varieties of equations have been proposed in the literature, consisting of different equations for different zones. An attempt has been made to present a unified flow equation for calculation of flow velocity at different positions on the spiral trough. Keywords: Secondary circulation, spiral concentrator, density separation, fine particle processing

Jan 1, 2020

By L. Ziyuan, S. Chunbao, K. Jue, H. Yang, S. Tichang

In this study, potassium ferrocyanide, a non-toxic cyanide precursor in dark and diffuse reflection environments, was applied as a reagent for the leaching of gold. The free cyanide ions were gradually released from the potassium ferrocyanide solution under the ultraviolet light. Orthogonal leaching experiments were performed in gold ore to analyse the effect of solution pH, potassium ferrocyanide dosage, and temperature in potassium ferrocyanide solution system under UV light. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to explore the role of potassium ferrocyanide in gold leaching, Optimised results showed that the gold recovery reached 67.74% in a high-alkaline environment at a 12.6 pH, 3.8 kg/t potassium ferrocyanide dosage, 62°C, and irradiance of 10mW/cm-2. The gold leaching kinetics was monitored by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation (QCM-D) of potassium ferrocyanide solution. The results indicate that the gold extraction process consists of two processes: adsorption and leaching, and a rigid adsorption layer formed on the reaction surface. Furthermore, Xray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis of the gold sensor surface after leaching reaction showed that -C≡N appears on the gold sensor surface, and the gold is oxidised to form AuCN complexes. Keywords: Gold leaching, potassium ferrocyanide, UV light, QCM-D, AuCN complexes

Jan 1, 2020

By I. Silin, H. Wotruba, A. Liono, I. Volobayev, Y. Rubinstein, D. Gürsel

Old, abandoned or in situ processed and storaged tailings can be a potential source of remained valuable metals and minerals. By reprocessing of tailings, it is possible not only to achieve economical profit from recovery of valuable metals, but also to reduce environmental damage caused by tailings such as generation of acid mine drainage from sulfide minerals, mobilization of heavy metals, soils and groundwater contamination. In addition, storage facilities can be successfully redesigned with modern geotechnical requirements and monitoring to avoid a dam collapse of abandoned tailings. In this case study, the processing of low grade abandoned tailings was investigated. Copper (0.15%), cobalt (0.032%) and gold (0.35 ppm) were determined as main valuable and recoverable metals. Cobalt occurs as cobaltite and cobaltiferrous pyrite, while chalcopyrite represents copper. The fine fraction of tailings below 32 μm is enriched with cobalt and copper. Preliminary test-works with initial tailings sample were aimed to recover copper, cobalt and gold. The previously tested magnetic and gravity separation could not recover the metals in a pre-concentration step. Flotation tests of the tailings sample had shown a suitability for flotation without previous regrinding of the tailings. The valuable minerals are first proposed to be recovered by collective flotation, followed by a selective circuit with production of a low grade copper concentrate and a cobalt bearing pyrite concentrate. Based on various tested collectors, amounts of sulfidisation agents and activators, a suitable reagents regime was determined and used for up-scaling by locked cycled test. Keywords: reprocessing, tailings, copper, cobalt, gold, flotation, cobaltite, cobaltiferrous pyrite

Jan 1, 2020

By S. Bradshaw, A. Mabentsela

"Physical and numerical modelling methods were followed to identify mechanism(s) for tundish slag entrainment in a bare tundish and one with a flow control device (FCD).The physical and numerical models made use of water and paraffin to model steel and slag respectively. Observations from the physical model showed that the steel-slag interface remains immobile in both cases. Entrained paraffin formed droplets approximately 1 mm in diameter. Results from both models (numerical and physical) showed that in both cases (bare and FCD case), areas of high entrained slag concentration exist near the inlet region. The entrained slag concentration decreases towards the tundish endwalls.Flow patterns and velocities tangential to the steel-slag interface from the numerical model showed that slag entrainment in both the bare tundish and tundish with a FCD possibly takes place via two mechanisms. First, the slag moves across the steel-slag interface via mass transfer; secondly small velocities tangential to the interface at depths greater than 10 mm below the interface carry the already ‘entrained’ slag into the bulk steel phase. These tangential flow patterns are dominant in the inlet region, hence the high concentration of entrained slag in this region. IntroductionThe tundish serves as the last metallurgical vessel through which steel passes before solidifying in the moulds. It is in the tundish that the last traces of non-metallic inclusions should be removed, otherwise the inclusions carry over to the moulds and cause defects in the steel product. In the tundish, the slag is less dense than the melt and thus resides on the top of the melt. The slag provides a sink into which the non-metallic inclusions float to and dissolve. The slag also protects the melt from air and heat loss. However, when slag is entrained in the melt as a result of increased turbulence or shearing at the steel-slag interface, slag can become a source of nonmetallic inclusions.Numerous studies on flow patterns in the tundish have been carried out since the introduction of the tundish. These studies were aimed at improving the flow characteristics in the tundish (Chattopadhyay, Isac, and Guthri, 2010; Cloete, 2014; Jha, Dash, and Kumar, 2001; Jha, Rao, and Dewan, 2008;"

Jan 1, 2017

By D. Amariei, G. Bartolacci

Preconcentration of precious and base metal ore types is becoming more relevant with the discovery, the development and the operation of many lower grade deposits around the world. Ore preconcentration designates an operation consisting of sorting an ore to reduce the quantity of waste material sent to the concentrator. It can be seen as rejecting waste material as much as possible, without compromising the recovery, or as the recovery of as much valuable metal as possible into an optimum mass yield. Benefits of preconcentration are multiple: grinding energy savings, costs reduction, lower environmental footprint, extension of the reserves, etc. However, all of these benefits do not apply simultaneously and are not applicable to each ore type. Technologies employed for preconcentration are highly dependent on ore properties, especially on the particle size at which the gangue is liberated. Thus, from coarser to finer particle sizes, technologies such as screening, ore sorting, gravity separation (Dense Media Separation (DMS) and jigs) and coarse flotation could be used for the rejection of liberated gangue. The difficulty starts when a benchmark is needed to select a suitable technology, especially for low-grade gold deposits. This paper presents the challenges of comparing lab-scale technologies (DMS versus jig) for gold preconcentration. The experimental data will show to what extent comparing two lab-scale gravity technologies for gold preconcentration can be challenging. An attempt to evaluate the energy savings by assessing the hardness of the tailings after gravity separation will also be presented. Keywords: Challenges in gold preconcentration, gravity separation, jig, dense medium separation

Jan 1, 2020

By Y. Yang, L. Li, X. Liu

Coal mining in China is facing the transition from output to quality. Based on the total mining capacity and average production, the current situation of coal mining at mine, city, and province levels is analysed, and data in support for the layout of sustainable mining development and the optimization of output provided. The results show that 87% of China's coal is mined by underground methods, with an average production capacity of 0.93 Mt/a per mine. Open pit mining accounts for 13%, with an average mine production capacity of 5.73 Mt/a. The average mining capacity of coal mines in China is 1.05 Mt/a, with 1181 coal mines with an average capacity less than 0.3 Mt/a, accounting for 35% of the total coal mines but contributing only 4.51% to output. They are distributed in about 48 cities in six provinces, seriously restricting the transition to green coal mining. The coal industry should speed up the closure of small coal mines in key provinces and cities, eliminate outdated production capacity in the central region, increase the speed and proportion of coal resources moving westward, and promote high-quality development of coal mining.

Jan 26, 2023

By M. -A. de Ville d’Avray, J. Bosman, S. Brochot

Dense Medium Separation (DMS) technologies are used for light (coal, lithium) or heavy (chromite, iron ore, diamonds) minerals concentration, but also for ore pre-concentration (Pb/Zn) or waste (plastics). Dense media are mainly formed from a suspension of magnetite or ferrosilicon in water. Such DMS circuit design or optimisation requires a full and detailed material balance which can be obtained by the aid of modelling and simulation tools. This balance is not limited to ore and its valuable minerals, but also the recovery of the dense medium itself. If the density is the main property used for separation, the particle size plays a non-negligible role, and, more precisely, the liberation classes which can be associated to the washability curve. The paper presents how the modelling and simulation platform USIM PAC can answer this challenge with the set of models for DMS operating units such as drums or cyclones, and their associated screens (drainage, rinsing) and magnetic separators for medium recovery. Some examples for mineral concentration will illustrate this approach. Keywords: Process simulation, process modelling, dense medium separation, process optimisation

Jan 1, 2020

By S. W. Jacobsz, Y. Narainsamy

Several high-impact tailings dam failures around the world in recent years have placed a renewed focus on the stability of tailings dams and pointed to potential shortcomings in traditional drained design and safety evaluation procedures. A need to consider undrained shear strength in the design of tailings facilities has become apparent. However, there are specific requirements that need to be met before undrained shearing occurs. In South Africa, the last major failure was likely the Merriespruit disaster in 1994, which leads to the question of whether the conditions required for undrained shearing are readily applicable to South African tailings dams. This paper describes research at the University of Pretoria that has recently commenced to further investigate the conditions required for undrained failure to occur. The research includes laboratory and field testing to replicate these conditions in the laboratory and relate them to those found in an active tailings dam.

Jun 2, 2022

By T. Szendrei, S. Tose

The Gurney approach to explosive/inert material interaction was adapted to analyse the face velocity in bench blasting. The model is based on the blasthole diameter, rock and explosive density, burden, spacing, linear charge density, and the Gurney energy constant. It is validated by comparing its predictions with a set of 20 field measurements of face velocities reported by Chiappetta et al. (1983) in an iron ore mine. The Gurney model links the observed large scatter of measured face velocities to the variation of the Gurney energy constant. This in turn is linked to the variability of the gas pressure acting on the burden. These variable pressures are generated when detonation product gases migrate into the extensive and complex fracture network around and between in-row blastholes. The energy efficiency of burden movement can be derived from the model. It is shown that ~7% of the explosive’s chemical energy is available for gas expansion work on the burden; of this quantity, 36% is actually converted to burden kinetic energy. That is, less than 3% of chemical energy is ultimately expended in burden displacement and throw. The model further indicatesnthat the projection of high-velocity (say, 100 m/s) flyrock is possible only when the path of leastnresistance through the burden has an effective density far less than the host rock. An equationnis derived that identifies the combinations of burden and path density that may yield flyrock. These values are specific to a particular baseline blast design.

Jan 30, 2026

By L. Rojas Mendoza, F. J. Hrach, A. Gupta, K. P. Flynn

ST Equipment & Technology (STET)’s tribo-electrostatic belt separator technology allows for the beneficiation of fine mineral powders by means of an entirely water-free technology with high throughput and low energy consumption. The STET separator is suited for separation of very fine (<1 μm) to moderately coarse (500 μm) particles, in contrast to other electrostatic processes that are typically limited to particles >75 μm in size. STET has performed exploratory studies with several iron ores including tailings and experimental results to date have demonstrated that low-grade iron fines can be upgraded by means of STET tribo-electrostatic separator to commercial grades (58-65%Fe). Experimental results together with high-level economic evaluations indicate that scavenging processes involving low drying costs, DSO operations and tailings beneficiation offer a commercially viable processing method to recover fine iron that would otherwise be lost by traditional processing. Dry electrostatic processing of iron ore presents a clean, low-energy opportunity for iron producers to reduce costs and wet tailings generation associated with traditional gravimetric, flotation and wet magnetic separation circuits. Moreover, STET technology allows for mining waste utilisation and resource recovery from iron ore fines and tailings, therefore offering processors a novel method to recover fines that would otherwise be difficult to process to sellable grades with existing technologies. Keywords: Iron fines, industrial minerals, dry separation, calcium carbonate, talc, barite, quartz, tribo-electrostatic charging, belt separator, fly ash

Jan 1, 2020

By G. Coetzer

"Prior to operating a non-recovery coke pilot plant oven, it was essential to ascertain coal cake stability during the loading of a 1 m3 (1 m × 1 m × 1 m) coal cake into the cold pilot-plant oven by a pusher mechanism. Previously established laboratory-scale compaction parameters, to obtain coal cakes with sufficient stability, were employed during the loading tests of the coal cakes. Two different coals were evaluated, namely Waterberg semi-soft coking coal (sscc) and Oaky North hard coking coal.It was demonstrated that lower applied compaction forces (14%) can be utilized during 1 m3 compaction, in comparison to laboratory-scale tests, to obtain similar wet cake densities, owing to differences in the effect of frictional forces. Wet cake densities for Waterberg sscc improved slightly (3%) to 1.13 t/m3 when utilizing 79 t/m2 applied force for a 1 m3 coal cake, in comparison to laboratory-scale tests. Similar results were obtained for Oaky North hard coking coal, with a 6% density increase to 1.27 t/m3 at a similar applied force. Porosities decreased by 13% and 32% for Waterberg sscc and Oaky North coal, respectively, when 1 m3 compaction was compared to laboratory-scale tests. An opportunity exists to further decrease the porosities of Waterberg sscc during compaction, whereas acceptable compaction parameters were achieved for Oaky North hard coking coal. Most major vertical cracks and the partial collapse of coal cakes were mitigated, and high-stability coal cakes were obtained that could be successfully loaded into the pilot-plant coke oven by a pusher mechanism.Factors contributing to the instability of the coal cake during loading into the oven, such as vertical cracks, are (i) the cubic geometry (1 m3) of the coal cake, (ii) friction exerted by the oven floor, and (iii) mechanical problems, such as a misalignment between the pusher machine feeder plate and the oven floor. IntroductionOperation of the stamp-charging horizontal 1 t electrically heated coke pilot-plant oven at Exxaro Resources requires coal cake stability during the loading of a 1 m3 compacted coal cake into the oven. In this case, a pusher plate is utilized to push the coal cake into the oven over the oven floor. This is in contrast to a ‘spoon’ or bottom plate feeding mechanism as found in industrial horizontal coke ovens. The pusher plate loading mechanism dictates that the coal cake should possess high stability and inherent strength owing to frictional forces exerted by the oven floor. In order to obtain a coal cake of acceptable stability for the 1 t coke oven, various compaction parameters need to be verified and established."

Apr 1, 2019

Notices STRASZACKERREPORT The Institute has received, for its information, a copy of the following letter, which was addressed to The Federation of Societies of Professional Engineers: REPORT: COMMISSION OF ENQUIRY INTO THE METHODS OF TRAINING FOR UNIVERSITY DEGREES IN ENGINEERING (STRASZACKER REPORT) Geagte Heer, VERSLAG: KOMMISSIE VAN ONDERSOEK NA DIE METODE VAN OPLEIDING VIR UNIVERSITEITSGRADE IN INGENIEURSWESE (STRASZACKERVERSLAG) Second International Symposium on Jet Cutting Technology This symposium, sponsored and organised by BHRA Fluid Engineering, of Cranfield, England, is to be held at St John&apos;s College, Cambridge, from 2nd to 4th April, 1974. Competition for student members of the South African Institute of Mining and Metallurgy Each year the Institute offers a prize (or prizes should the entries warrant it) of up to R100 for the best paper or dissertation on a topic appropriate to the interests of the Institute. Techomin 74 - World Mining Fair The above World Mining Fair, under the sponsorship of the International Committee for the Organization of World Mining Congresses and the Peruvian Government, is to be held in Lima, Peru, from 3rd to 12th November, 1974, to coincide with the 1974 World Mining Congress, which is to be held in Lima. NIM Reports Report No. 1435 The determination of chromium, manganese, iron, cobalt, and nickel by atomicabsorption spectrophotometry using the nitrous oxide-acetylene flame. Report No. 1463 Liq&apos;uidus temperatures and activities of manganese (11) oxide in slags associated with the production of high-carbon ferromanganese alloys. Report No. 1467 The spectral analysis of solutions. 1. The analysis of rare-earth minerals. Report No. 1479 Infrared studies of the adsorption of oleate species on mineral surfaces,with special reference to fluorite. Report No. 1483 The South African manpower requirements in extractive metallurgy. Report No. 1484 Cost estimates for the production of copper wirebars from sulphidic ores. Report No. 1486 Review of the jluoro-chemical industry of the World. Report No. 1490 The adsorption of krypton, nitrogen, and water vapour on sodium oleate. Report No. 1491 Technology and economics of the Olaus kiln under South African conditions. De Beers Report The dry grinding of tungsten carbide/ steel combinations with diamond wheels. Metallurgical Directory The Israel Export Institute has just published the first edition of the Israel Metal Industry Directory, which gives pertinent information relating to the 750 Israeli manufacturers of metal products-addresses, annual turnover, and products- and to consulting engineers and export companies specializing in metal products. Visiting Nuclear Scientist The National Institute for Metallurgy has announced that Professor Vincent P. Guinn, of the University of California, is to spend his sabbatical leave (April to June) working with the Activation Analysis Research Group of the National Institute for Metallurgy.

By R. D. Alorro, B. Tadesse, E. Aghaei

Cinnabar (HgS) and native mercury (Hg) are the most common naturally occurring forms of mercury found in most gold ores subsequently released into the environment during processing. Mercury and its compounds are extremely toxic and recognised as serious health and environmental hazards. This research investigates the possibility of mercury (Hg) removal from waste solutions from gold processing using iron-aluminium (Fe-Al) bimetallic particles. The synthesis of Fe-Al bimetallic particles using zero-valent aluminium and ferric chloride as precursors were performed following the optimisation of influencing factors. The presence of both metals in the prepared bimetals was confirmed by XRD analysis. The experiments for mercury removal by bimetals were designed using the central composite design and Minitab software based on two variables including contact time and adsorbent dosage. The best result of Hg(II) removal (>90%) was achieved using 4 g/L bimetals and contact time of 75 min. However, the statistical analysis of results indicated that these parameters have only a minor contribution to the removal of Hg(II) by Fe-Al bimetals. Higher bimetal dosage and contact time resulted in a higher Fe dissolution from the Al surface which can be attributed to the presence of nitrate (# $) ions in the solution. However, adding 0.1 M NaCl to the Hg solution had a positive impact on Hg removal by improving the conductivity and electron transfer within the solution. The Fe-Al bimetallic particles are promising substances for further testing of Hg removal from gold processing waste solutions with different conditions and constituents. Keywords: Mercury removal, gold processing, Fe-Al bimetals, optimisation

Jan 1, 2020

By J. T. M. Amphlett, C. A. Sharrad, M. D. Ogden, R. I. Foster

"A renewed interest in nuclear power around the world in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is going to increase demand for uranium as fuel. This will result in more uranium being mined, which will in turn increase associated environmental pressures, such as fresh water use. A move to lower quality waters containing impurities such as chloride would help alleviate these pressures. In this work, we determined the uptake characteristics of weakly basic anion exchange resin Ps-EDA towards uranium from saline solutions in a dynamic flow column. Breakthrough curves were produced, with suppression of uptake being observed for chloride concentrations above 5 g L-1. Calculated resin saturation capacities at zero and 5 g L-1 chloride are comparable with literature values for strong-base anion exchange resins, and exceed those published for weak-base resins up to 20 g L-1 chloride. Data has been fitted to multiple breakthrough models, with the modified dose-response model most effectively predicting uranium recovery. The results show that the ethylenediamine functionality could be suitable for use in future uranium processing flow sheets where a high-saline lixiviant is used. IntroductionIon exchange (IX) is a key technology in the uranium mining industry and is well established for the extraction of uranium from both acidic and alkaline leach liquors (Edwards and Oliver, 2000). It was first employed in 1952 at the West Rand mine in South Africa (Ford, 1993; Taylor, 2016). H2SO4 and Na2CO3 are the most commonly employed lixiviants used to solubilize uranium in acidic and alkaline leach conditions respectively. The chemistry of these systems causes uranium to form anionic sulphate or carbonate complexes, which can be taken advantage of by anion exchange resins.Another major technology for the extraction and purification of uranium from leach liquors is solvent extraction (SX). This technique involves the extraction of uranium from the aqueous phase into an immiscible organic layer. Although this is a commonly used method, there are major drawbacks to it, including the use of large volumes of flammable solvents, solvent loss, phase disengagement, third phase formation, and the production of problematic degradation products (Veliscek-Carolan, 2016). These problems can be circumvented through the use of IX resins."

Dec 1, 2018

By M. Izadi Yazdan-Abadi, S. H. Amiri, M. Ramezanizadeh, M. Bazmandeh

Iron ore concentrate is used as the fresh feed of pelletising plants. The green pellet properties depend on iron concentrate characteristics such as particle size distribution (PSD), specific surface area (Blaine value), iron grade, moisture content and grinding methods. The grinding methods affects particle size distribution and Blaine value. To find out the effects of grinding methods on pelletising process, green pellets were produced with concentrates that were reground by means of HPGR (high pressure grinding rolls) and ball mill. The Blaine values of ground concentrates in both types of milling were approximately 1400, 1600 and 1800 cm2/gr. The results of green pelletising tests on a pilot plant scale showed that at the same Blaine values, drop numbers of green pellets produced by ground concentrate inside HPGR were higher than the green pellets produced by ground concentrate inside a ball mill. Also, reground concentrates by means of HPGR, in comparison with ball mill, caused the production of green pellets, at higher wet and dry compression strengths. As a result, it was found that preparing the pelletising feed by means of HPGR led to more positive effects on the properties of green pellets. Keywords: Ball mill, HPGR, green pellet, drop number, wet and dry compression strengths

Jan 1, 2020