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Poor floatability of fine particles is known to be the main cause of the low recovery of ilmenite in Panzhihua, which is the largest titanium mine of China. To get an optimum ilmenite recovery, selective flocculation, and flotation of fine ilmenite was investigated through flotation tests, particle size analysis, zeta potential tests and scanning electron microscopy. The results indicate that carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) shows flocculation effect for both ilmenite and titanaugite without selectivity, while selective flocculation could be realized by the combination of water glass and CMC. It is because that competitive adsorption would take place on these two kinds of mineral when water glass and CMC are used together. On the surface of ilmenite, the adsorption ability of CMC is stronger than that of water glass, so that CMC can absorb to the same extent irrespective of the presence of a pre-adsorbed layer of water glass and ilmenite particles is flocculated by CMC. The same cannot be said of the titanaugite phase as water glass strongly adsorbs onto the titanaugite, and the adsorption of CMC is hindered. Therefore, the titanaugite particles keep dispersion. Furthermore, the flotation of fine ilmenite particles is feasible as the ilmenite floccules could react with sodium oleate. In the flotation separation of Panzhihua ilmenite ore, the recovery of TiO2 increased from 52.63% to 68.28% by selective flotation. Keywords: ilmenite, flotation, selective flocculation, adsorption

Sep 1, 2012

By Y. P. Huang

Experiment results and operation practice on reutilizing old tailings dumped at SCIM (Shang-chang Iron Mine) of KISCO (Kunming Iron and Steel Corp.) are presented. In a production period over 30 years SCIM dumped about 8 million tons of iron ore tailings. For improving resources utilization instead of wasting, experiments on processing for reutilization of the old tailings are con-ducted. These tailings are fine size fractions of weathered iluvial ores rejected out by classification- des-liming in ore washing and dressing processes, containing TFe 21%~22% in hematite mainly and limonite occasionally. Their particle size distribution, in average, is of 72.26% minus 0.037mm and 30.88% minus 0.005mm. Existence of plenty of micro-fine particles makes the tailings refractory to process, resulting in poor metallurgy. The whole sample of the old tailings without size-classification is fed into experimental process. Slon-100 type high grads WHIMS (wet high intensity magnetic separator) with cyc-pulsing is adopted, which magnetism-focusing rod?s diameter is changed from 3mm into 2mm. Operational conditions of optimizing rougher separation tests are strengthened. An iron concentrate assaying 52.21% Fe at quantity rate of 18.39% and iron recovery of 44.40% is obtained. Operational practice shows that metallurgy and economy of the old tailings treatment are close to what achieved at experiments. It is estimated, therefore, that some 1.4 million tons of this iron concentrate may be recovered from the old tailings. This means that KISCO has moved its key one-step in re-mining and reutilizing the secondary resources, which would be a good demonstration in this industry. This is also of social and economic significance in response to China government?s request on reducing consumption of resources and establishing society with economy for achieving sustainable development.

Jan 1, 2014

By X. M. Wang

Magnetic floatation column (MFC) is a new equipment used for increasing content of iron, in which magnetite is separated in open gradient magnetic field. Simulation study was performed to investigate the separation characteristics of the separation method by analyzing the dynamic motion of magnetic particles. In this paper we compare two magnetic fields created by different magnets. The obtained simulation results give perspective in industrial design of MFC as the basis stage.

Jan 1, 2014

By Fuqiang Zheng, Shuai Wang, Feng Chen, Yufeng Guo, Guanzhou Qiu, Tao Jiang

"The direct reduced iron powder and Ti-V-rich material was prepared from vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate by solid-state reduction-magnetic separation. The result indicated that under the studied conditions, adding KS can effectively improve the metallization rate of pellets. 2% KS was well mixed with vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate to make the pellets. The green pellet was preheated at 900 ? for 6 min. The preheated pellet was reduced at 1050 ? for 100 min, then crushed and ground to more than 80% was below 0.045 mm. The direct reduced iron powder and Ti-V-rich material were separated from the slurry by wet magnetic separation at 800Gs. The TFe content of magnetic material was 90.63%, and the Fe recovery rate reached 96.53%. The TiO2 and V2O5 contents of Ti-V-rich material were 28.40 % and 1.64 %, respectively. The TiO2 and V2O5 recovery rates were 69.05% and 96.82%, respectively. 1. Introduction The ilmenite and rutile are the main titanium resources which can be used in the present technical level and economic conditions[1,2]. However, with the rapid development of China’s economy, the market demand of titanium products is increasing sharply. The current supply of ilmenite and rutile cannot meet the needs of chemical industry[3]. China is rich in vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate which contains abundant titanium and vanadium resources. The TiO2 and V2O5 content of vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate are usually about 7% and 0.3%, respectively[4]. Because the TiO2 and V2O5 grades are low, it generally requires pre-concentrated to Ti-V-rich material before extracting the titanium and vanadium. Therefore, it is vital to find effective processes for pre-concentrating the titanium and vanadium in vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate. There are many methods[5-13] developed or under development to pre-concentrate Ti-V-rich material from vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate, including the blast furnace process, pre-reduction electric furnace process, to utilized vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate are direct reduction-electric furnace smelting, sodium salt roasting-direct reduction-electric furnace smelting and direct reduction-magnetic separation and so on. The blast furnace process and other methods cannot effectively utilize the titanium and vanadium resource due to the technical or environmental problems[9]. In this study, the vanadium titanomagnetite concentrate was obtained from Panxi region of China, the reserves of which account for 11.6% of vanadium and 35.17% of titanium all over the world[3]. The preparation of direct reduced iron powder and Ti-V-rich material based on reduction-magnetic separation is proposed. The process utilizes a new catalyst for titanium ore reduction in rotary kiln followed by magnetic separation. Using this novel technology, the titanium-vanadium and iron are successfully separated. Compared to the traditional reduction of Ti-bearing ore, the reduction temperature reduced to 1050 ?, leading to higher efficiency, lower energy consumption and investment, and broader applications."

Jan 1, 2018

By D. Bastin, J. Frenay, J. Dassas

"The Luiswishi deposit belongs to the Cu-Co deposits of the Southern Group of the Katangian Copper Belt and is operated by a joint venture between EGMF (Entreprises Générales Malta Forrest) and Gecamines (Générale des Carrières et des Mines). The Cu-Co ore is beneficiated by the sulphidization process at the NCK (New Concentrator of Kipushi) at Kipushi.Sulphidization followed by flotation with sulphydryl collectors is a common practice for the treatment of oxidized base metals ores. This process is complex and its application at the industrial scale is quite sensitive. In Central Africa it is also a cost intensive treatment as the sulphidizing agent has to be imported. In order to improve the metallurgical performances and to optimise the economics of the process, a laboratory research program was carried out by the Laboratory of Metallurgy and Mineral Processing (MTM) of the University of Liège in close collaboration with EGMF and Gecamines. This program included the study of various flotation reagents as dispersing, depressing and activating agents.This paper presents the results obtained with the use of ammonium sulphate as activator of the sulphidized xanthate flotation. Although ammonium sulphate has been mentioned in the literature as a promoting agent of the sulphidized xanthate flotation of malachite, its effects on the flotation of cobalt oxides was not known.The testworks were carried out on various oxidized siliceous ore types from the Luiswishi deposit. A 1.7 l Agitair laboratory flotation cell was used. NaHS and potassium amylxanthate were respectively choosen as sulphidizer and collector. A mixture of gasoil and tall oil (90/10) was used as secondary collector. A multistage sulphidization was realised. Values of pH were followed during the different tests and an ion selective electrode Ag/Ag2S was used to control the Es potentiel evolution during the stepwise addition of the sulphidizer."

Jan 1, 2003

By Peter J. Coghill, Michael J. Millen, Brian D. Sowerby, Kirby D. Cunningham

"CSIRO Minerals has developed an integrated particle size analysis system for deployment in the grinding circuits of minerals processing plants. The system includes a slurry sampling station, a de-aeration tank and an ultrasonic particle size analyser (UltraPS). The UltraPS analyser is based on ultrasonic attenuation and velocity spectrometry combined with gamma-ray transmission. The technology is applicable to the measurement of 0.1 to 1000 µm diameter particles directly in highly concentrated slurries without dilution. The analyser incorporates a gamma-ray transmission gauge utilising an ultra-low activity radioisotope source that is exempt from International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and Australian licensing regulations.The UltraPS analyser consists of a submersible probe and an electronics package. The probe can be immersed directly in a minerals processing plant stream if the aeration level in the stream is low. For applications where a de-aerated slurry stream is not available, CSIRO has developed an integrated system that includes a sampling station, a de-aeration tank as well as the UltraPS analyser itself. A schematic drawing of the continuous flow gravity fed system is shown in the figure. A commercial sampling system is used to supply slurry at a rate of 2.5m3/hr to the deaeration tank. The aim of the de-aeration tank is to remove air in the slurry to a level where meaningful particle size measurements can be performed. The tank volume is about 0.2m3, thus giving the slurry flowing through the tank a mean residence time in the tank of approximately five minutes. Tests at a number of concentrators have shown that five minutes is sufficient time for slurry to de-aerate to a level where ultrasonic measurements can be made. The tank incorporates an ultrasonic level detection sensor and flow to the deaeration tank is adjusted based on the level of slurry within the tank. The UltraPS probe is mounted through a flanged section of duct, which is bolted to the bottom of the de-aeration tank."

Jan 1, 2003

By Patrick A. Turner, Timothy J. Olson, Abraham J. Schutte, Roman van Ommen

"The use of classifying devices in grinding circuits dates back to the early 1900’s when classifiers were installed to close ball mills. The search for ways to further improve grinding circuits led to the use of hydrocyclones in place of mechanical classifiers in South Africa in the early 1950’s. Today Hydrocyclones are considered as the best classifying devices to close grinding circuits. After 50 years of development the hydrocyclone has changed significantly when compared to the designs of the early days, but the focus to circuit optimization must be expanded to an understanding of the integral system consisting of mill, cyclone feed pump and cyclone.The key to good cyclone circuit design and operation in primary grinding circuits will be discussed including individual cyclone design features such as cone angle or materials of construction, as well as orientation and manifold configuration.Cyclone performance issues as well as maintenance considerations will be detailed in an effort to achieve consistent cyclone operation with minimal coarse solids in the overflow. “The importance of constant cyclone feed conditions is unquestioned today. The challenge of Cyclone sizing is a large number of not fully known variables prior to startup. The most significant unknown variable is slurry viscosity. Because of this, engineers often specify a conservative cyclone system that produces a finer than required separation. However, this approach often leads to higher circulating loads and a higher overflow density in order to produce the required separation. The higher cyclone overflow density results in a less efficient cyclone separation. The average concentrator can pick up 2-4% finer overall grind by having a more aggressive cyclone operation.”"

Jan 1, 2003

By Mike Daniel, Eric Wang

"Several new large copper and gold concentrators have been built and commissioned around the world in the past five to eight years. The success of the ramp-up from these very large concentrators has varied. CITIC SMCC Process Technology was engaged to assist some of these mines by gaining a better understanding of the factors that influence throughput capacity. As such, site-specific throughput forecast models that are influenced by SAG mill performance were developed. The forecast models are easy to interpret and modify and can greatly assist the mine management to make predictions and informed decisions for a range of site improvements. The models investigate the influence of SAG mill performance with respect to ore competency, derived from SMC Test® via the measured DWi model parameter. In some cases the benefits of blasting and from fine tuning milling operations are already incorporated into the "site-specific" forecast models. The methodology follows rigorous plant data analysis that is analogous to a "Mine-to-Mill®" optimisation project. The CITIC-SMCC model validation includes extensive data collection, which includes drill core analysis, ore characterisation and comprehensive comminution circuit operational data to assess the limitations within the comminution circuit within the operating mine. The results and models may be used to define the operating base lines of the processing areas and identify improvement opportunities upstream and downstream of the comminution circuit. The predictive capability of the models use logged production data and has enabled the user to differentiate between alternative circuit configuration options and identify optimum operating conditions. This approach minimises the ongoing requirement for costly plant surveys. The improvement strategy for each site, included the ongoing measurement of grindability, rock strength and via the Bond and SMC Test® respectively. Some commentary as to what other practitioners do with input data and their models is also presented as this highlights some of their shortcomings relative to the CITIC-SMCC methods."

Jan 1, 2014

By S. K. Pan, M. P. Srivastava, N. Prasad

"Dalli mines of Bhilai Steel Plant, India is fully mechanized iron ore mine having wet processing system. It has a capacity to treat 5 Mt of ROM. In processing circuit of Dalli mines, scrubbing, wet screening and classification operation is being carried out. Average slime generation for the last five years is about 14% of ROM. As the mining has reached to the lower benches, fines generation is more. As a result, very fine and heavy particles, which settle fast, are being discarded with the slime to tailing pond. These heavy and faster settling particles were causing jamming in the thickeners.Laboratory investigations were carried out at Research and Development Centre for Iron and Steel (RDCIS) to suggest a suitable scheme to recover high quality fines so that the availability of thickener can improve. The slime samples were first treated in a floatex density separator. The concentrate obtained from the floatex density separator was treated in hydrocyclone. Laboratory investigations indicated that the slime with 49% Fe, 12.7% silica and 10.7% alumina can be upgraded to 62.1% Fe, 3.3% silica and 2% alumina with 36% material recovery. Based on the laboratory studies ,a system was installed at Dalli minesThe general arrangement of the system is shown in Fig. below."

Jan 1, 2003

By G. Granata, C. Tokoro, T. Kato

The rare earth elements (REE) are composed of 17 elements that are 15 elements of lanthanide added scandium and yttrium. REE are divided into light rare earth elements (LREE) and heavy rare earth elements (HREE). Although the supply source of LREE is distributed around the world, the supply sources are unevenly distributed. Thus, the development of a new HREE supply source is required. In this study, we focused on the weathered residual rare earth ore as a new HREE supply source. Since so far this weathered residual rare earth ore could not be treated neither by flotation nor by wet high intensity magnetic separation, it was not considered as HREE resource before. In this study, we investigated the leaching of HREE from the weathered residual rare earth ore and elucidated the effectiveness of planetary milling with sodium hydroxide as a method to enhance their recovery. For this purpose, the weathered residual rare earth ore was first grinded by planetary mill in the presence of sodium hydroxide and then leached by sulfuric acid. The influence of planetary milling on HREE recovery was investigated by assisting the leaching experiments with X-ray absorption fine structure (XAFS) in cerium and yttrium K-edge. Since yttrium was the most contained HREE in the weathered residual rare earth ore used in this study, we focused on yttrium in XAFS analysis. Results clearly showed that the recovery of HREE increased by planetary milling with sodium hydroxide. XAFS analysis revealed that a part of the yttrium in the weathered residual rare earth ore was changed to yttrium hydroxide by planetary milling with sodium hydroxide. It is supposed that all HREE were affected like yttrium due to a similar behavior observed in leaching.

Jan 1, 2018

By Lilong Huang, Yuan Long, Li Shi, Guowang Zhang, Xiao Xiao

"Graphite is the key raw material of new carbon materials such as graphene and spherical graphite. The size and completeness of graphite flakes directly affect the performance of new carbonaceous materials.The research aims to increase the yield of large flake graphite by way of preventing the flake graphite from being damaged during the grinding process. A series of grinding and flotation studies on the flake graphite samples of Yichang in Hubei Province were carried out by vertical stirred mill . The damage coefficient L characterising the degree of graphite flake fractured and corresponding formula was proposed to determine the quality of the grinding and grinding of the flake graphite. The way the damage coefficient L of graphite flake would be affected if with different mill, different media material and size, stirrer speed were investigated. The test results show that vertical screw stirred mill helps the protection of large flake of graphite as well as the graphite liberation. When grinding to the same fineness, the damage coefficient L of graphite flake is 1.20 for vertical stirred mill, while the damage coefficient is 2.93 for ball mill. Minimum damage coefficient of graphite flake was obtained when using 6 mm polyurethane coated ball as grinding media, under the condition that rotation speed of the stirrer within the range of 100~130r/min. The grade of graphite in the concentrate floated from the ground product was 94.16%, the rate of recovery for graphite was 94.66%, and the content of +0.15mm was 54.83%.1 INTRODUCTION Flake graphite is a very important non-metallic mineral[1,2],and due to its special flake structure, the greater the scale and the higher the C grade, the value of its application is larger too. Therefore, in the grinding of graphite sorting process, We should minimize the destruction of graphite scales.. In this paper, graphite mine in Yichang, Hubei Province was used as the raw material for the study. Rough concentrate with C-grade of 36.49% was prepared by rough grinding and coarse separation. Then a series of grinding and flotation studies on the rough concentrate were carried out by vertical stirred mill , which aims to increase the yield of large flake graphite and to provide technical support for improving the beneficiation process of graphite ore."

Jan 1, 2018

By Evgeni Visariev

In Copper smelter Aurubis Bulgaria, the copper in slag from the Flash furnace and the Converters is recovered by flotation. The scheme of slag processing is crushing, two stage grinding (autogenous and ball) and flotation. Till 2010 the grinding cycle in the plant was in two stages ? the first stage was AG Mill 70?23 working with a classifier and the second stage was ball mill 3.6/5.5 working with a hydrocyclone. In 2010 a new AG Mill 65x78 with hydrocyclone was put in operation in order to increase throughput of the plant. The second stage of the grinding cycle is with the same ball mill. The Old AG mill processed 55-60 t/h slag with particle size -0.071 mm 75% or over 75 t/h with particle size -0.071 mm 35-40 %. The new AG Mill was designed for throughput 105 t/h with particle size -0.071 mm over 70 %. After the start up there were some problems with the equipment ? block up of AG Mill?s grate and pumps for feeding of the hydrocyclone. For optimization of the process a lot of general tests were made. One of the main problem was a wearing of the sand nozzles. Different materials (rubber, ceramic, metallic) for the sand nozzles were tested. The openings of the grate were changed. This paper presents: ? the optimal technological parameters of the old and the new working scheme; ? how the technological parameters of the new working scheme change when the hydrocyclone works with different nozzles; ? the effect of the change of the grate openings; ? the problems with the increase of the circulating load; ? a final decisions for improvement of the grinding cycle work. Keywords: spigot, wearing, classification, effectiveness, circulating load, autogenous, mill

Sep 1, 2012

By J. Yvon, Inna V. Filippova

"The aim of this work is to seek the inhibitors of the meteoric and bacterial dissolution of sulphides and gangue minerals to stop the undesirable chemical reactions during conservation of the flotation wastes. The approach of passivation of surfaces by chemical treatment of the solid phase is applied for this objective.The samples taken from different depths of an old French waste dump revealed the capacity of the flotation tailings to produce acid waters (pH 1.8-2.4) and to release heavy metals. Mineralogical studies show not only the product of sulphide oxidation, i.e. sulphates, but also the complex transformations of aluminosilicates in acidic liquid phase. The detection by XRD of aluminium hydroxides (gibbsite, boehmite) allows supposing the recrystallisation phenomena during tailings conservation.Comparative tests of the passivation of the surface of sulphide minerals and waste of flotation with using of conventional reagents (CaO, NaOH, phosphates) and original reagents for this purpose (alkyl dithiocarbamates) allow to identify the optimal treatment conditions and the efficient chemicals.Leach tests were carried out in percolation columns during 68 weeks. The normalised leaching tests according to French legislation were run to confirm the selected treatment conditions. The results obtained show that a single treatment with carbamate inhibits the oxidation of the pyrite and the other sulphides, and totally prevents the formation of acid waters (the stabilised pH was 5.3-5.8). Treatment of in situ drainage water allows to obtaining a total precipitation of heavy metals: the residual concentrations of Fe, Cu and Zn are lower than 0,1 mg/l.The passivation of sulphides is the result of the formation with carbamate (studied by IR spectroscopy and XPS) of organometallic compounds, which are stable in acid medium. The presence of thiuramdisulphide (product of alkylcarbamate oxidation) at the mineral surface stabilises the mixed adsorption layer and leads to a considerable reduction in the hydratation rate of surface by avoiding the corrosion of the pyrite. No aluminium was detected in leach solution with this treatment."

Jan 1, 2003

By S. V. Balikov

A close association of fine gold with pyrite and arsenopyrite is observed at many gold ore deposits. Gold forms and gold distribution in sulfides of different deposits were studied. A comprehensive method including optical spectrum analysis, X-ray diffraction analysis, high-temperature X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microanalysis was used for the de-tailed investigation of the defectiveness of the structure of pyrites from different deposits. It was shown that gold content in pyrites varied from 1.5 g/t to 100 g/t compared with 30 g/t to 230 g/t in arsenopyrites. The nature and arrangement of inner inclusions of foreign minerals in pyrites as well as occurrence of fractures and macro- and microdefects were examined. Iron, sulfur and arsenic contents in all pyrite samples were determined. Chemical composition of the detected inclusions was defined. Parameters of submicroscopic structure of pyrite were estimated using X-ray Fourier line shape analysis. Estimation of real structure characteristics with calculation of submicroscopic D-blocks and root-mean-square lattice deformation 2()evalues was performed. Defectiveness of the pyrite structure can be defined by the following parameters: K?1 and K?2 reflection resolution and its intensity within high Bragg angles; S content to Fe content ratio; the arsenic content and the local variation in its concentration within the pyrite grain; the size of submicroscopic blocks and the crystal lattice disturbance value. The performed analysis showed some relationships between these parameters and refractoriness of the pyrite concentrates. It was observed that at S/Fe ratio close to or higher than stoichiometry and at a low arsenic content (less than one per cent) pyrite concentrates were not refractory. The analysis results showed that concentrates of the Beryozovskaya gold plant (0.02~0.07 As%) and concentrates of the Kommunarovskaya gold plant (less than 0.05 As%) as well as some pyrites from the Sukhoi Log gold deposit had the same characteristics. It was found that average arsenic content did not excess 0.2 per cent. Arsenic distribution within the grain of all these pyrites was uniform. At S/Fe ratio lower than or close to stoichiometry and at high arsenic content (more than one per cent) and significant variation in its distribution within a pyrite grain the pyrite concentrates are refractory. Such pyrites are typical for the Sukhoi Log, the Bakyrchik and the Mardzhanbulak gold deposits. Direct correlation between arsenic and gold contents, in particular, in fine grains of pyrite was observed by many researches. This correlation was explained by impregnation of arsenopyrite which normally contains more gold than arsenic pyrites. The analyses results showed that no arsenopyrite impregnation was found: arsenic distribution within the grain was uniform but its concentration varied greatly. Such pyrite concentrates are more refractory. This paper presents the results of analyses of sulfides to determine the amenability of the associated gold recovery by hydro- and pyrometallurgy.

Jan 1, 2014

By Douglas Fuerstenau

"Comminution not only is the major energy cost in mineral processing but it also can limit the grade of ores that can economically be processed. Rittinger first postulated that the energy for comminution is proportional to the new surface produced. Because most of the strain energy needed to initiate and propagate cracks in particles cannot be recovered, researchers reported woefully low comminution efficiencies. Recognizing this, Schoenert proposed that the baseline for assessing comminution efficiency should be the mechanical energy needed to break single particles. After extensive single-particle studies, Schoenert turned to comminuting beds of particle in piston dies. Finding particle-bed comminution to be energy efficient, he had the brilliant conception of making the process continuous, namely his invention of the choke-fed high-pressure roll mill (HPGR). Practical comminution involves masses of particles, which can lead to energy efficiencies far less than that of single-particle breakage. A three-way classification of grinding modes in terms of the mobility of the particle mass provides the necessary insight into the low efficiency of different comminution machines: namely, single-particle breakage, confined particle-bed grinding (HPGR), and loose-bed grinding (ball mill). Examples are given for determining and comparing comminution efficiencies. The size distribution of comminuted products become self-similar, and a single parameter, the median size, can be used to quantify the extent of comminution. The reduction ratio, expressed in terms of the mean size of the feed and product, varies linearly with expended energy and the slope of such plots is a measure of the grindability of the mineral. This approach clearly gives the order of energy efficiency as single-particle > particle-bed > loose-bed comminution. HPGRs are more efficient at low reduction ratios but lose that advantage at higher reduction ratios. Extensive hybrid grinding experiments carried out with our instrumented ball mill and HPGR showed significant energy savings by first comminuting the material in the HPGR and followed by the ball mill. At Cerro Verde an industrial-scale hybrid HPGR/ball mill system is reported to have a 13 percent energy savings over a SAG mill/ball mill system."

Jan 1, 2014

By Markus A. Reuter, Jacques J. Eksteen

"The modelling of bath type furnaces tends to be either fundamental in nature or total empirical ""black box models"". While models of the first kind are robust, they tend to lack accuracy, in cases where they are to be used for process control, and may take an overly long in development time. On the other hand, black box models tend to lack robustness of prediction for all circumstances and tend to be limited to interpolate based on historical data. While this may very often provide short-term accuracy, the models may have problems with stability in the long term. Moreover, the model structure may not reflect any of the fundamental properties of the system and remains opaque to fundamental analysis. The aim of the model development is in obtaining a model that have robustness, high accuracy, a short development time and which is adaptive to a changing environment. The models are specifically developed for on-line decision support or control of furnaces. The modelling approach is evaluated for a chromite bath smelting furnace. The role of systems analysis, mass balance smoothing, thermodynamic analysis are integrated into one generic algorithm for bath type furnaces. Not only are fundamental process relationships such the mass and energy balances satisfied through a scientific method of data reconciliation; the proposed modelling approach allows adaptive prediction, the first step towards predictive control or metallurgical decision support.It is shown that neither an ARMAX model only, nor a purely equilibrium model only, could predict the dynamics of the process very well. However, a combination of the two approaches more than doubled the accuracy as measured by the R2. It was noted for carbon dissolved in the alloy, that the improvement in R2 in using a hybrid modelling approach was more than the sum of the R2 of the individual traditional approaches. Similar improvements in modelling performance were noted for all other species.It shows further that process dynamics may totally overshadow the effect of thermochemical equilibrium (even when the thermochemical equilibrium prediction includes the recycled alloy and slag heels as additional feeds). The exclusion of process dynamics therefore leads to erroneous results."

Jan 1, 2003

By W. Z. Zu

In proved reserves of vanadium-containing titanomagnetite in Panxi, China, iron grades of ores were 50% ~ 15%. China?s metallurgical industry departments defined the iron ores containing 50% ~ 20% TFe as exploitable resources and the extreme lean iron ores containing 20% ~ 15% TFe as temporary unexploitable resources, the extreme lean ores were as waste rejected into waste dump in mining process. This paper researched process mineralogy of the extreme lean ores, adopted mineral processing technology responded to the properties of the ores to treat the ores and obtained quality vanadium-iron concentrate, titanium concentrate and sulfur concentrate, therefore successfully utilized the extreme lean ores, changed the ores from waste resources to exploitable resources.

Jan 1, 2014

By Z. H. Wang

The internal parameters of ball mill are very important in the grinding process and have significant impact on the grinding results. Accurate measurement of the internal parameters of ball mill is crucial and indispensable for optimization and control of grinding process. In this paper, a novel tri-sensor measurement method was used to measure the external signals (i.e., bearing pressure, sound intensity and power consumption) of ball mill. Mathematical models, which link the external signals of ball mill with its internal parameters, were established to predict the internal parameters of ball mill. Experimental results showed that the mathematical models could directly predict the internal parameters of ball mill once the external signals were obtained. The tri-sensor measurement method and the mathematical models proposed in this paper provided a new way and solid basis for optimization and control of ball milling.

Jan 1, 2014

By Ana Elisa Casas Botero

The Rhodococcus opacus microorganism was evaluated as a biocollector for flotation of barite. The electrophoretic behaviour of the mineral, before and after R. opacus interaction, was evaluated and showed that the cells adhesion shifted the mineral zeta potential curves. Adhesion tests were suggested a high affinity of the bacteria for barite. The experiments of the adsorption rate of the R. opacus on the mineral surface showed fast kinetics, achieving a maxim of cell adsorption after 5 minutes. Adsorption isotherm curves for barite could be categorized as Langmurian (L) type II. The best bioflotability results for barite achieved values around 75% for a R. opacus concentration of a R. opacus concentration of 250 ppm in the pH around 5.0. The studies were compared with the flotation of barite using a traditional collector. The bioflotation experiments were discussed considering the obtained adhesion tests. The results were supported by the Thermodynamic approach for selected pH values. The fundamental flotation studies showed the paramount potential that R. opacus presents as a biocollector and its possible application in the mineral flotation industry.

Jan 1, 2014

By Yuexin Han, Zehong Wang, Fujia Yu, Wanzhong Yin, Xinchao Wei

Bauxite is the main raw material in alumina and refractory industries. China has plentiful bauxite resources, most of which belong to the diaspore type bauxite with characteristics of high aluminum content, high silicon content and low ratio of alumina and silica (A/S). The resources with A/S 4-7 account for more than 60% of the total resource reserves of bauxite. Therefore improving the A/S through bauxite desilication is the key task of bauxite concentration in China. Normally the grinding fineness of 80-90% - 0.074mm is required in the bauxite flotation process. Thus fine grinding of bauxite ores is necessary, which leads to the high energy consumption. In the meanwhile, bauxite ores are easy to produce slime during grinding processes. The large amount of slime produced in fine grinding greatly worsens the process environment of bauxite flotation, affects the separation performance and results in the loss of metal. Also, fine grinding makes the flotation concentrate difficult to dewater, while the water content in the flotation concentrate must be removed by distillation in the subsequent alumina dissolution process, causing the increase of energy consumption and cost in the production of alumina. In this study, the selective grinding behaviors were examined with Henan Bauxite as feed. Separation of alumina and silica at a coarser grinding fineness was achieved and new route was explored to enhance the desilication in bauxite concentration to improve the A/S of bauxite concentrate.

Jan 1, 2003