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By Venkataramana Runkana, Aditya Pareek, Vishnu Masampally, Nagaravi Kumar Varma Nadimpalli

"Recovery and grade of the ore produced are two important metrics, which define the profitability of a mineral processing plant. Achieving high grade and high recovery at the same time in a mineral processing plant is difficult due to conflicting nature of the two objectives. To explore the operability limits of the plant operations and find the set of operating conditions that can help achieve the best possible recovery and grade, there is a need to solve a multi-objective optimization (MOO) problem. Past research focused on building a plant-wide simulation model or on optimization of individual units or a part of a mineral processing plant like grinding circuit, crushing circuit, etc. However, it is necessary to consider optimization of the complete plant in order to optimize the plant performance. Here, we have formulated the mineral processing plant performance optimization as a MOO problem. We have applied machine-learning algorithms such as random forest to build models to predict the recovery and grade of the ore. A non-dominated sorting-based multi-objective evolutionary algorithm called NSGA-II (Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II) was employed to solve the MOO problem. Since the number of parameters that influence recovery and grade are quite large, we have applied machine-learning algorithms for feature selection or identification of key process variables. Pareto optimal conditions were determined for manipulated variables like grinding mill throughput, speed ratio at SAG mill, speed of centrifugal pump, water addition at different locations etc. The results obtained are useful in identifying the operability of a mineral processing plant to achieve the optimum grade and recovery for a given feed grade and the processing circuit. INTRODUCTION Copper is majorly mined or extracted as copper sulfides from large open pit mines in porphyry copper deposits. Among all the available ores, sulfides are the most commercial ores, especially chalcopyrite (Greenwood and Alan, 1997). Copper grade in these ores generally lies between 0.4 to 1.0%. In order to perform smelting operation, the grade of copper has to be improved to around 30% (Biswas et al. 2013). This targeted copper grade is achieved through two stages of mineral processing. Firstly, the copper in the ore has to be liberated by crushing the mineral rock. Secondly, the liberated copper in the crushed ore is then physically separated from other minerals like nickel by froth flotation techniques."

Jan 1, 2018

By Xiaoxu Sun, Jianchao Yao, Jiancheng He, Shijie Lu, Hongxi Zhou

"The ball mill performance relies on impact grinding, but it has disadvantage of the lower efficiency when the ore is finer; while tower mill relies on friction shear affection with high energy efficiency, which is considered to be one of the most potential fine grinding equipment all over the world. Generated by the agitator device, the internal media movement is complex because of comprehensive interaction of screw mechanism, cylinder structure and adjacent media, which is the key factor of grinding process. But the kinematics parameter ,such as speed, acceleration, stress and so on, of media motion cannot be obtained through traditional laboratory test method, which restricts deeply research on finer grinding mechanism seriously. In order to solve this problem, characteristics of media motion in tower mill is studied via the discrete element method. Coefficient of restitution, coefficient of static friction and coefficient of rolling friction are the key parameters affecting the media movement, which were calibrated by stacking angle test firstly. A 3kW tower mill is established as the model for simulation. At last one appropriate simulation strategy is selected to increase simulation accuracy. The characteristic of media motion is obtained based on the computer simulation analysis: macroscopically, the media in tower mill is a dynamic equilibrium state generally accompanied by spiral up and down movement all the time. And it has been found that the maximum lifting height is proportional to the rotation speed of agitator shaft. The velocity of media at the edge of screw stirrer is biggest, while the velocity of media near the cylinder wall is smaller, so the grinding performance between the two ring areas is the best. The rotational speed of agitator shaft and media filling ratio are the two most important operating parameters in tower mill. The impact curve of two main operating parameters on the grinding intensity and energy efficiency are obtained. All these can provide theoretical basis and technical support for operating parameters setting of industrial tower mill."

Jan 1, 2018

This paper presents a theoretical investigation on the ionic equilibrium of Fe(III)?Ni(II)?H2SO4?H2O system. A non-ideal speciation model is developed to calculate the concentration distribution of iron and nickel species in a mixed ferric and nickel sulphate aqueous solution over the pH range from 0 to 4 and temperature from 25 to 100°C. A series of speciation diagrams for iron and nickel species is plotted with the effects of ionic strength and temperature on the equilibrium constants being taken into account. The ionic strength-dependent equilibrium constant is treated through a semi-empirical Vasil'eV equation, which is based on an extended Debye?Hückel theory. A Helgeson model is applied to extrapolate the equilibrium constant to elevated temperature. The ionic equilibrium reactions are described by a group of numerical equations containing the temperature and ionic strength-dependent equilibrium constants, which are solved by the Newton-Raphson method. The speciation model is also applied to estimate the hydrogen ion activities and corresponding pH values. The calculated pH values are in agreement with the experimentally measured pH, and are compared to literature data and pH values produced by the Visual MINTEQ® program (a computer code for the calculation of chemical equilibrium in natural aqueous system). This investigation provides a deep insight into the ionic equilibrium behavior of a mixed metal sulphate aqueous system which commonly occurs in hydrometallurgical processing. Keywords: speciation, chemical modelling, thermodynamics, iron, nickel

Sep 1, 2012

By Güven Önal, Gülay Bulut, Mustafa Özer, Yunus Emre Benkli, Olgaç Kangal, Mustafa Tarkan

There are various types of natural zeolite deposits in Turkey. Naturally occurring zeolites are excluded from many important commercial applications where uniformity and purity are essential. In this paper, the beneficiation of natural zeolite, taken from western part of Turkey, was investigated. According to X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) and mineralogical studies carried out on the representative ore sample, the natural zeolite was found to be in the forms of clinoptilolite and heulandite. Clinoptilolite forms as a devitrification product of volcanic glass in tuffs. Quartz, clay minerals, orthoclase, plagioclase, biotite, seruzite-muskovite and epidote were observed as impurities. Several types of mineral processing methods were performed in order to remove impurities from the natural zeolite sample to produce high purity zeolite. Gravity separation methods such as shaking table and superpanner were carried out for separating heavy minerals, while high intensity dry magnetic separation was used for discarding magnetic minerals.

Jan 1, 2003

By Felipe Henríquez, Daniel Silva

"Traditionally, the implementation of an automated advanced process controller in any mineral processing complex is a challenge, mainly due to the quality of resources and technologies required, the uniqueness of each control solution and the uncertainty of the engineering hours needed to complete the task. Thus, the use of advanced and proven control technology becomes a key factor when deploying the control strategy. However, success would still not be possible without the presence of common sense, process knowledge and fundamental process data. Minera Los Pelambres, taking advantage of such factors and its accumulated process experience, implemented a novel and successful combination of MPC (Multivariable Predictive Control) and advanced control for secondary grinding and regrinding stages at its copper concentrator plant. In both cases, the control objectives are: being capable of processing a variable feed from the upstream process while at the same time avoiding to become a process bottle neck and yet, maintaining an adequate product quality (in terms of size distribution) to the process downstream. Additionally, for the case of the vertical regrinding mill (vertimill), the control system should also be capable of keeping an adequate circulation load and making an efficient use of the available grinding power. In either case, extending hidrocyclones availability while maintaining their performance is a must, since both factors are required for process and maintenance purposes. Thus, the process control problem becomes one with a multi-variable type of process with multiple control objectives to satisfy simultaneously. In trying to solve it, many mineral processing operations have implemented basic or conventional control or even better yet, expert systems. Minera Los Pelambres believes that better and faster results can be achieved using a combination of MPC and advanced control. Such strategy was successfully implemented, reducing considerably process variability while maintaining high throughput and keeping the process well within constraints limits. Their control philosophy, implementation process, main results and their key performance indicators are discussed here."

Jan 1, 2014

By Cheng Xiang, Nan Ye, Xinyuan Ke, Yang. Jiakuan, Huabin Wang

Bayer red mud is a highly alkaline residue produced by the alumina industry through the Bayer process. Its disposal is a worldwide problem. The high alkali content and poor pozzolanic activity is aconstraint for its utilization on construction materials. In this study, the red mud was activated through an alkali-thermal method to improve its activity so that it can be utilized in geopolymerization. The red mud was mixed with different amounts of sodium hydroxide, and calcined under 800 °C to produce geopolymer precursors, and then mixed with water directly to prepare one-part geopolymer. X-ray diffraction was conducted to study the phase transformation of red mud and the mechanism of its geopolymerization. Nitrogen Isothermal Adsorption tests were conducted to analyze the pore structure of the geopolymer binders. The results show that calcinations with alkali would promote the Al in red mud transforming into glassy SiO2 to form the N-A-S phase which is soluble in water. When the red mud was calcined at 800 °C with a Na2O addition more than 10%, the dissolving of Si and Al from red mud was greatly improved. The thermal-alkali activated red mud with 10% Na2O obtaining a compressive strength of 9.77 MPa after it reacted with water and cured for 7 days at 20 °C and 95% RH. But the strength decreased as the curing time extended to 28 days. The reason is suggested to be that the polymerization of Al-O and Si-O is unstable due to the low Si/Al ratio of red mud. The alkali in the structure dissolves again into the pore water and corrupts the pore structure. Therefore, the thermal-alkali red mud should be combined with other reactive aluminosilicate materials such as granulated blast furnace slag to absorb the alkali released by the thermal-alkali red mud at the latter curing days.

Jan 1, 2014

By Lorenzo Reyes-Bozo, Ronaldo Herrera-Urbina, Pablo Higueras, Alex Godoy-Faúndez

"The copper mining industry in Chile and perhaps in other countries as well is faced with the challenge to implement the best practices in order to achieve a sustainable and more environment-friendly growth. Relationships between mining industry and society have been historically complex due to its environmental impacts. Whereas the ore grade has declined continuously, this has involved an intensive energy and water consumption thus increasing operational costs at different stages of the concentration process. In the case of copper sulphide ore concentration, froth flotation is the main technology used worldwide. The amount of the different chemical reagents used in flotation plants (i.e., collectors, depressants, frothers and modifiers) affects significantly production costs and has a negative effect on the environment as well. The objective of this research work was to evaluate the use of biosolids and their main components (i.e., glucose, proteins and humic substances) as more environment-friendly flotation collectors for chalcopyrite and molybdenite. For this purpose, microflotation tests were conducted in a modified Hallimond tube. In addition, FTIR and zeta potential experiments were performed to investigate the interaction of biosolids with these sulphide minerals. Biosolids and their main components may interact through physical and chemical ways due to different affinities with such sulphide minerals as chalcopyrite, pyrite and molybdenite, which are present in copper sulphide ores. In alkaline pHs, biosolids and their main components make the zeta potential of the sulphide minerals investigated more negative. These results may provide important information concerning the behavior of the main sulphide minerals in the concentration of copper sulphide ores at industrial scale, wherein mill processes could affect their surfaces properties. Therefore, biosolids and their main components may open an opportunity to be used in copper sulphide flotation plants to partially replace conventional reagents, which are more hazardous and less environment-friendly."

Jan 1, 2014

By A. N. Zagorodnyaya, T. N. Bukurov, Z. S. Abisheva, A. S. Sharipova

"The paper describes the results of stripping of copper production dusts by leaching with aqueous soda, nitric acid solutions and recovery from solutions resulting in the production of lead sulphate, tribasic lead sulfate (TBLS), ammonium perrhenate, zinc, copper-cadmium cake.The combination of two stripping operations under chosen optimal conditions allows the recovery of 98% rhenium, 82% lead, 92 % copper, and 96% zinc and cadmium each. The major amount of rhenium (~ 80%) is recovered at the carbonization stage, and other metals - at the nitric acid leaching stage.Lead sulfate was precipitated by mixing solutions resulting from carbonization and leaching. Tribasic lead sulfate was produced by dissolving lead sulfate in sodium hydroxide solutions. Rhenium was recovered from mother liquor resulting from lead sulfate precipitation by liquid-liquid extraction and zinc was recovered from raffinates. Trialkylamine (TAA) was used as an extractant for rhenium recovery and di-2- ethylhexylphosphoric acid was used for zinc recovery. Optimal liquid-liquid extraction parameters have been defined allowing the recovery of 96% rhenium in crude ammonium perrhenate and 94% zinc in sulfuric acid solution. Based on the experimental data, the flowchart for dust processing to produce salable products - lead, rhenium, zinc salts has been suggested."

Jan 1, 2003

By Kremena Dedelyanova, Tsvetan Damyanov, Nikolay Hristov, Evgeni Kostadinov, Lubomir Kuzev

"Spherical grinding media (balls) are the most widely used media for comminution of ores by grinding. One way to optimize the grinding process in a tumbling mill is associated with the development and testing of a new media shape. By modelling simulation study of the behaviour of two types of grinding media (balls and tetraballpebs) in the grinding process was conducted to determine the possible advantages of the new media shape. Tetraballpebs are in the shape of tetrahedrons with spherical convex walls. D305 mm and L305 mm Bond ball mill sizes were used in the experiment. They are modelled milling tetraballpebs bodies corresponding by weight to five ball sizes, namely ¾, 7/8, 1, 1¼ and 1½ inches which form the grinding media used in a Bond ball mill. They are cast steel grinding bodies. Studies carried out with both types of grinding media include equal number of milling bodies of the same weight and volume. Having thus ensured a uniform mass of the grinding media and the same number of milling bodies, all other conditions and process parameters being identical, conclusions can be drawn about the influence of the grinding media shape on the grinding process. Compared to steel balls, the tetraballpebs used in laboratory tests carried out in closed cycle by Bond ball mill and the study of the rate of grinding gave five to six per cent higher yield of a control size of minus 0.1 mm. Measurements of the Bond ball mill power consumption demonstrated that tetraballpebs grinding media achieved energy saving of 4.7 per cent for the production of one gram of the control size of minus 0.1 mm."

Jan 1, 2014

By Willis Forsling, Prabhakar Swarna, Hanumantha Rao Kota

The solubility of wollastonite and its Hallimond flotation behavior as a function of dodecylamine concentration and pH are examined. The flotation response is characterized by adsorption and surface energy in the presence of amine. The methods of UV-Visible and FT-IR spectroscopy for adsorption and sessile-drop contact angle for surface energy estimation are employed. The results of wollastonite dissolution clearly showed its non uniform dissolution. The surfaces are depleted with calcium ions and became rich in silicon within 10 min of flotation time. Maximum flotation of wollastonite corresponds to a half monolayer coverage of amine, which is substantiated by the surface energy parameters. A good correlation between flotation, adsorption and surface energy as a function of amine concentration and pH was observed. The sudden increase in wollastonite flotation and amine adsorption at and above 5x10-5 M initial amine concentration is thought to be due to two-dimensional precipitation of amine on surface in accordance with the recent 2D-3D precipitation model of amine adsorption on silicate minerals.

Jan 1, 2003

By Cristiane Ericksson, Ananda Scomazzon, Irineu Schadach, Juliano Tonezer

The state of Rio Grande do Sul, southern Brazil, appears on the national and international scene as an important producer of precious stones and the main gems are amethyst, citrine and agate. However, despite the immense potential of this mining activity, the extraction and processing of gemstones in Brazil present critical issues of infrastructure, which prevents a better development of these activities. In general, local production is still concentrated in small rudimentary mining. Recently some of these mines have begun to regularize their activities, in conjunction with the National Department of Mining Control. Besides these problems best practices for extraction activities and environmental control are not usually observed. Another problem which is placed in a critical way is the absence of aggregate value for the products of small mines. In this situation, the miners have great problems to obtain access to technology and adequate infrastructure. In most cases miners need negotiate their gems without processing, transferring most of the profit to intermediate traders. These results in heavy losses for the producer and for the communities involved. Given this scenario, the present study aimed at defining systems technically and operationally viable to be implemented in these communities in order to add value to gemstones. In this study best practices to thermochemical coloring systems, analysis of effect of raw materials and operating parameters on the final color of the gem were analyzed with attention.

Jan 1, 2014

By Ljudmil S. Grigorov, Eric Forssberg, Hanumantha Rao Kota, Robert J. Pugh, Lidia B. Alexandrova

"We have used the microscopic thin balance developed by Scheludko at al. (1970) technique to study the stability and interactions within the thin film between the silica surface and air bubble with (i) a long chain C10 amine and (ii) a cationic/anionic surfactant systems consisting of mixtures of a long straight C10 chain amine with long straight chain C8, C10 and C12 sulfonates. It was found that the mixed surfactants caused lower contact angles, lower rates of the thin aqueous film rupture and longer film lifetime, compared to the pure amine system.This behavior was explained by the initial strong adsorption of positively charged interfacial complexes from the mixed surfactant system at the air/solution interface followed by adsorption at the silica interface. It was also shown that the chain length compatibility between the anionic and cationic surfactants controls the strength of the interfacial complex, determining an inhibition in the thin film rupture and dewetting of the film. The rupture mechanism was explained by an earlier established heterocoagulation mechanism between the positively charged air/solution interface and the solution/silica interface which remained negatively charged. The formation of the interfacial complex at the air/solution interface was confirmed by using surface tension data."

Jan 1, 2003

By K. Amano, K. Haga, Y. Watanabe, A. Shibayama, A. Batnasan, A. Battsengel

"Apatite is an important host mineral in igneous and metamorphic rocks for production of phosphate fertilizers and phosphoric acid, and a potential source of rare earth elements (REE) production. For dissolution of REEs, sulfuric acid is better leaching reagent to develop the economical viable process for recovering of rare earth elements from apatite ore. However, the efficiency of rare earth elements dissolution in H2SO4 is about 30 % due to the formation of calcium phosphate or calcium sulfate as precipitate. On the other hands, phosphorus is mainly produced from phosphate ore. However, when treating rare earth elements containing phosphate ore, rare earth elements were discharged. Hence, development of novel apatite ore treatment process is required for effective utilization of natural resources. In this study, apatite deposit associated with REE was treated with sulfuric acid leaching and two stage precipitation by oxalic acid (C2H2O4) and magnesium chloride (MgCl2) for recovering REE and phosphorus, individually. Results showed that it can be seen the vast majority of La (87.5%), Ce (87.3 %), Pr (86.1 %), Nd (85.2 %) and Y (90.9 %) were dissolved in 1 mol/L diluted H2SO4 solution from the apatite ore. As average leaching rate of REE, over 85% of REE were leached by the condition. In the first stage precipitation using the obtained pregnant leach solution from leaching, over 90% of REE was precipitated by oxalic acid addition after controlling pH to 1 by NH4OH solution. After pH changed to 8.5, over 90% of phosphorus was recovered as precipitate by magnesium chloride addition in second stage precipitation"

Jan 1, 2018

By U. Dmitrakova, G. Sedelnikova, D. Kim, E. Savari

"The paper presents the results of research on the development of gold and silver extraction technology from refractory gold sulphide flotation concentrate of one deposits of Nord-East of Russia. The concentrate is due to the complex mineral composition. Gold and silver are finely disseminated in sulphide minerals (arsenopyrite and pyrite partially oxidized by 7-11%). These are characterized by high content of silver 219 g/t and sulphide sulfur 32%, the presence of poorly soluble silver minerals (silver sulfosalts, fahlore, finely dispersed hypergenic acanthite in iron hydroxides and jarosite, etc.), and impurity minerals capable of interacting with cyanide (pyrrhotite, marcasite, nonferrous sulphides) and causing higher than normal cyanide consumption. Pretreatment of refractory sulphide concentrate by biooxidation using a mixed association of mesophilic and moderately thermophilic bacteria at a temperature of 36-40 °C for 120 hours oxidized arsenopyrite by 97.5%, pyrite by 93.5%, unlocked refractory gold, and generally oxidized the minerals absorbing cyanide and oxygen before cyanidation. Further oxidation of these minerals-absorbents was facilitated by the aeration in calcareous medium of the solid biooxidation residues of the concentrate. Sorption cyanidation of the solid biooxidation residues with addition of lead (II) of recovered 91.2% of gold and 82.9% silver from biooxidation residue, compared with 80.1% and 46.6%, respectively, for sorption cyanidation without the preceding biooxidation step. Biooxidation of the concentrate prior to cyanidation improves the recovery of precious metals, especially silver, and significantly reduces cyanide consumption from 18.7 kg/t to 3-5 kg/t of concentrate. INTRODUCTION Biooxidation of gold sulphide concentrates using acidophilic microorganisms has been successfully applied worldwide (van Aswegen et al., 2007; Gericke et al., 2009; Sovmen et al., 2007; Sovmen et al., 2009). At least 15 full-scale plants for tank biooxidation of sulphide concentrates are presently in operation, and the construction of new ones is planned (Bulaev et al, 2015)."

Jan 1, 2018

By Y. Foucaud, I. Filippova, L. Filippov

Flotation is the most common beneficiation route for tungsten ores, but the predominance of minerals with similar surface properties poses a real challenge. This study investigates the use of Falcon centrifugal separators for gangue minerals removal and desliming prior to flotation. A typical tungsten-bearing skarn ore (Tabuaço, Portugal) is used, containing scheelite (CaWO4) associated with dense calcium-bearing silicates (vesuvianite), fluorite, apatite and light silicates (feldspars) as gangue minerals. Two types of Falcon bowls (Falcon UF and Falcon SB) were used, prior to flotation tests with fatty acids as collectors and a combination of sodium carbonate and sodium silicate as gangue minerals depressants. This flowsheet was compared with a reverse configuration, using flotation prior to Falcon concentrator, and with a classical flowsheet, using hydrocyclone and flotation. Gravity pre-concentration and desliming with the Falcon concentrator were optimized through the design of experiments (DoE) methodology. The influences of pulp density, rotational speed, feed flowrate and fluidisation pressure (for the Falcon SB) were studied for both bowls. Results showed that the Falcon can be used as a desliming and pre-concentrating apparatus. Separation performances depend mainly on rotary speed and pulp density for the Falcon UF, whereas rotary speed and fluidisation pressure are the main parameters for the Falcon SB. With only one stage of Falcon SB, an enrichment ratio of 7.9 is obtained with a 65% WO3 recovery while 89% of apatite and fluorite are rejected, which constitutes a very good selectivity. In comparison, Falcon UF shows lower enrichment ratios, around 2.7. In terms of desliming, Falcon UF is as efficient as the hydrocyclone, while the Falcon SB is significantly more efficient. Hence, the use of Falcon SB prior to flotation improves the overall performance of the tungsten flotation route by desliming the flotation feed while pre-concentrating the scheelite. It impacts very advantageously the flotation, as most of the calcium-bearing minerals are eliminated. A Falcon SB stage prior to flotation yields a final concentrate grade of 29.7% WO3 with a recovery of only 36.8 % that should be optimized as the reagents dosages were not adapted to the pre-concentrated feed.

Jan 1, 2018

By Fengming Li, Baocheng Song, Yuemin Zhao, Hailin Dong, Liping Peng, Chusheng Liu, Chenlong Duan

The large-scale vibrating screens with high processing capacity and efficiency are now in great demand in the mineral processing industry of China. However, as the equipment is always suffering from the strong external harmonic exciting force, the inertial force and the impact from the minerals, the fracture of the beam and the crack of the lateral plate are easy to occur, which has a negative effect on the reliability of the equipment itself and the industrial production. Considering the essential high reliability of the equipment, a new large-scale vibrating screen with duplex statically indeterminate mesh beam structure (VSDSIMBS) was developed. The natural characteristics, namely, the natural frequency (or the modal frequencies) and the natural mode, and the dynamic characteristics of the VSDSIMBS were obtained by the modal analysis and the harmonic response analysis. In addition, the dimensions and the constructions of the statically indeterminate plate and the mesh beam were chosen as the design parameters, to which the sensitivity of the whole mass, the maximum deformation and the maximum stress of the duplex statically indeterminate mesh beam structure (DSIMBS) were summarized for the optimization of the DSIMBS. Now the large-scale VSDSIMBS is being well used in China.

Jan 1, 2014

By A. Usov

The studies carried out by the Russian researchers and those carried out jointly within some contracts with scientific organizations and companies of other countries, show that the electric pulse disintegration of materials (ED), proposed and investigated in detail in Russia (Kalyatsky, et al, 1980; Usov et al, 1987; Semkin et al, 1995; Usov and Tsukerman, 2000; Kurets et al, 2002) has been widely recognized and developed abroad (Andres, 1995; Inoue et al, 2000; Biela et al, 2008). The Russian and international journals and the proceedings of the conferences dealing with the electric pulse disintegration pay great attention to the principal principals of selective disintegration of materials. There is no, however, any information concerning both the technical means developed to implement the technique and the assessment of their performance, which would be necessary in objective assessment of the industrial use of the technology. The results of long-term studies of the technique and technologies of electric pulse disaggregation by research institutes such as Research Institute of High Voltages (Tomsk), Kola Science Centre of RAS (Apatity), Institute "Mekhanobr"(S.Pertersburg) described. Exploratory stands and technological installations are developed to carry out pilot tests and operations under production conditions. Basic circuits and classification of technical means electric pulse disintegration of the materials are proposed, the analysis of transportation schemes and classification of the material in the disintegration apparatus are given, construction of chambers for continuous stadial disintegration of ores and materials are presented. The features and technological efficiency of electric pulse disintegration of various types of ores, and the spheres of effective use of the method have been determined. Keywords: electropulse disintegration, disintegration machines, chambers of comminution, stadial comminution.

Sep 1, 2012

By M. P. Krasteva

The froth flotation process for separation of mineral ores depends on the establishment of care-fully controlled froth. The formation of very stable froth in the flotation circuit is a problem that may occur in many plants, resulting in down-time, low quality and grade of final product and considerable expenses. Froths build up on the top surfaces of thickeners, tanks and flotation cells until they overflow, or until the efficiency of the circuit is impaired. A similar problem exists in Assarel concentrator, Assarel-Medet PLC, Bulgaria. Copper and copper-pyrite ores are dressed in Assarel concentrator. They are characterized with variable and complex mineral and physical composition. During the flotation cycle, resilient and difficult to break-down froth is formed, which subsequently impedes the process of thickening and clear overflow obtaining. Due to this problem continuous sampling in the cycle of thickening was conducted. The mineralogical, chemical composition, particle size distribution and solid phase content of the products were determined. It was established that the solid phase of the froth build up on the top surface of the thickener differs considerably from this one of the thickener underflow. The data clearly indicates that a separation process takes place on the top surface of the thickener ? fine particles of chalcopyrite are concentrated in the froth. The role of chemical reagent addition in the break-down of the flotation froth is investigated in terms of surface chemical phenomena involved in the stabilized froths. Measurements of the coper minerals wettability and surface tension at the air/liquid interface were performed. The surface active agent AERODRI® dewatering aids were laboratory tested. Bench-scale froth collapse tests were conducted. Reagent addition into pulp-froth system promotes and leads to a bubble coalescence, an improvement of the wetting of the mineral particles and a decrease of the surface tension at the air/liquid interface. The results of the laboratory experiments showed that the presence of the surface active agent leads to considerably decrease of the froth stability and the destruction of the deleterious froths build up on the top surface of the thickeners in Assarel concentrator.

Jan 1, 2014

By K. Lillkung

The use of secondary sources has become a very attractive option in the production of platinum group metals as the demand for these metals has increased. One of the promising sources are the spent catalysts, which provide an attractive source as they have relatively high metal content compared with the ores where the metal is originally extracted from. The concentration of platinum group metals in catalytic converters is in the range of 0.1-1 mg/g as the concentration in ores is usually less than 10 ppm. Aqueous chloride solutions are claimed to be a cost effective way in which platinum group metals can be brought into solution and concentrated. In this work the effect of different parameters on the dissolution rates of Pt, Pd and Rh were investigated. The parameters investigated were the Cl- concentration, the temperature and applied potential. Chloride concentrations used were 62.5, 90, 125 and 250 g/l. Temperatures were 25, 40, 60, 80 and 94°C. Potentials were 950, 1050, 1150 and 1250 mV vs. SCE for Pt and Rh and 380, 410, 440 and 470 mV vs. SCE for Pd. Dissolution rates were calculated from the current densities determined by potentiostatic measurements. Thin wire electrodes were used in the measurements. As expected, higher temperature, higher potential and higher chloride content generally increasedthe dissolution rate. However, the effect was nonlinear and slightly different for different metals. The results show that strongly oxidizing conditions are needed in order to achieve reasonable dissolution rates. With the highest chloride content and at potential of 1250 mV vs. SCE and 94°C the dissolution rate of Pt was nearly 1 mm/h, whereas in similar conditions Rh achieved a rate of only nearly 100 µm/h. Similarly, with the highest chloride content and at potential of 470 mV vs. SCE at 94 °C the dissolution rate of Pd was nearly 1 mm/h. Keywords: Pt, Pd, Rh, redox potential

Sep 1, 2012

By John Ralston, Jona Addai-Mensah, Patience Mpofu

The flocculation and dewatering behaviour of kaolinite (non swelling) and smectite (swelling) clay dispersions has been investigated using hydrolysable metal ions Mn(II) and Ca(II) and anionic polyacrylamide-acrylate copolymer (PAM) at pH 7.5 and 10.5. A pH-dependent, specific metal ion adsorption behaviour, accompanied by a marked reduction in particle zeta potential and slurry shear yield stress, was observed to have a profound influence on the colloid stability of both types of clays. Due to the differences in the cation exchange capacity, the smectite clay dispersion required a higher amount of metal ions than kaolinite dispersion to produce similar effects. The adsorption density of the anionic PAM at the negatively charged clay particle surfaces correlated well with metal ion hydrolysis and adsorption behaviour, all of which had a strong effect on slurry settling rate and extent of consolidation. At pH 7.5 where Mn(II) ions hydrolyse, metal ion and flocculant adsorption densities were both greater in the presence of Mn(II) than Ca(II) ions. At pH 10.5, however, where Ca(II) ions begins to hydrolyse, higher adsorption densities were observed for Ca(II) ions in comparison with Mn(II) ions, as the latter hydrolysed completely and precipitated. The metal ion mediated flocculant adsorption led to improved hydrogen bond driven particle bridging and facilitated charge neutralisation flocculation mechanisms which significantly enhanced the dewaterability of both clay dispersions.

Jan 1, 2003