Single-stage recovery and concentration of mineral sands using a REFLUX™ Classifier

Galvin, K.P.; Zhou, Jian; Price, Andrew; Agrwal, P.; Iveson, S.M.

doi:10.1016/j.mineng.2016.04.010

Cited by 16 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Hence the drop off in recovery most likely indicates that the larger particles were less well liberated and thus had lower densities, enabling them to be conveyed upwards into the overflow in spite of their larger size. A similar effect was noticed in the work of Galvin et al (2016) with the recovery of Zr from a mineral sands feed.…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

Gravity separation of ultra-fine iron ore in the REFLUX^TMClassifier

Hunter

Zhou

Iveson

et al. 2016

Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy

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The REFLUX™ Classifier is a recently developed water-based gravity separation technology that is already being used worldwide to beneficiate particles above 0.100 mm in size. This paper reports tests performed on an ultra-fine iron ore with nominal top size of 0.106 mm, but with 59 wt-% being below 0.038 mm in size. The REFLUX™ Classifier consists of a set of parallel inclined channels positioned above a vertical fluidised section. The Boycott effect generates a powerful throughput advantage and using narrow channels gives a high shear rate which generates a hydrodynamic lift force that helps to selectively re-suspend and elutriate the lower-density particles. The iron ore feed had a head grade of 35 wt-% FeT. At a low feed solids mass flux of 1.5 t m−2 h−1, the REFLUX™ Classifier produced high-grade products at a high recovery. Overall a grade of 66.1 wt-% FeT with Fe recovery of 80 wt-% could be achieved in a single-stage separation. Within the 0.020–0.038 mm size fraction, grades of 68.8 wt-% FeT were achieved with iron recoveries of 94.7 wt-%. Excellent recoveries of up to 57.0 wt-% were achieved even for the −0.020 mm size fraction.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 80%

Gravity separation of ultra-fine iron ore in the REFLUX^TMClassifier

Hunter

Zhou

Iveson

et al. 2016

Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy

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show abstract

“…The underflow rate was adjusted to establish a constant bed level in the system. It is noted that an underflow buffer, described previously [16], was applied to help moderate the underflow removal. Buffer water was applied at a rate of 1.0 L/min, less than the rate of underflow removal; thus, there was no net buffer water flow into the system.…”

Section: Continuous Steady-state Operationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Internal Classification in Coarse Particle Flotation of Chalcopyrite Using the CoarseAIRTM

2022

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This work introduces the CoarseAIR™, a novel system utilizing a three-phase fluidized bed and a system of inclined channels to facilitate coarse particle flotation and internal size classification. Internal classification in the CoarseAIR™ was investigated in a series of continuous steady-state experiments at different inclined channel spacings. For each experimental series, a low-grade chalcopyrite ore was milled to a top size of 0.53 mm and methodically prepared to generate a consistent feed. The air rate to the system was adjusted to determine the impact of the gas flux on coarse particle flotation and overall system performance, with a focus on maximizing both copper recovery and coarse gangue rejection. A new feed preparation protocol led to low variability in the state of the feed, and in turn strong closure in the material balance. Hence, clear conclusions were drawn due to the high-quality datasets. Inclined channel spacings of z = 6 and z = 9 mm were used. The z = 9 mm spacing produced more favourable copper recovery and gangue rejection. Higher gas fluxes of 0.30 to 0.45 cm/s had a measurable, adverse effect on the recovery of the coarser hydrophobic particles, while the gas flux of 0.15 cm/s delivered the best performance. Here, the cumulative recovery was 90%, and mass rejection was 60% at 0.50 mm, while the +0.090 mm recovery was 83% with a gangue rejection of 85%. The system displayed robust performance across all conditions investigated.

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“…The technology is being used increasingly for dense mineral beneficiation. The published literature covers iron ore [9][10][11], mineral sands [12], zircon [13], antimony oxide [14] and chromite ore [15].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beneficiation of High-Density Tantalum Ore in the REFLUX™ Concentrating Classifier Analysed Using Batch Fractionation Assay and Density Data

Iveson,

Boonzaier,

Galvin

2024

Minerals

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A laboratory-scale REFLUX™ Concentrating Classifier was operated in continuous mode to beneficiate a sub 0.100 mm tantalum ore with a head grade of 0.56 wt.% Ta. The unit incorporated a lower section with a reduced diameter to accommodate a low yield. At a yield to underflow product of 4.0 wt.%, a product grade of 13.3 wt.% was achieved (23.7 upgrade) at a recovery of 88.3%. Samples of the feed, product and reject were then fractionated in a batch REFLUX™ Classifier unit using dense lithium heteropolytungstate (LST) solution into 11 fractions. Each of these fractions was then screened into seven size intervals and analysed by pycnometry and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). Most of the material was found to reside in four relatively narrow density bands. A new analysis based on the recovery of selected tracer elements showed that the partition curve had good closure at both ends and that the density cut point and Ep both increased with decreasing particle size. For the +0.045 mm material, the density cut point was estimated to be around 3952 kg/m3 with an Ep of 317 kg/m3, but it was expected that this new method could overestimate Ep. An alternative novel approach for estimating the partition performance was developed. This method estimated the cut point and Ep values to be 3764 kg/m3 and 107 kg/m3, respectively. However, sensitivity analysis found that due to the near total absence of material in the density range from 3400 kg/m3 to 4700 kg/m3, the Ep could likely lie anywhere in the range from 0 to 250 kg/m3. The methodology proved useful in establishing these limitations in the analysis.

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Single-stage recovery and concentration of mineral sands using a REFLUX™ Classifier

Cited by 16 publications

References 10 publications

Gravity separation of ultra-fine iron ore in the REFLUX^TMClassifier

Gravity separation of ultra-fine iron ore in the REFLUX^TMClassifier

Investigation of Internal Classification in Coarse Particle Flotation of Chalcopyrite Using the CoarseAIRTM

Beneficiation of High-Density Tantalum Ore in the REFLUX™ Concentrating Classifier Analysed Using Batch Fractionation Assay and Density Data

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Single-stage recovery and concentration of mineral sands using a REFLUX™ Classifier

Cited by 16 publications

References 10 publications

Gravity separation of ultra-fine iron ore in the REFLUXTMClassifier

Gravity separation of ultra-fine iron ore in the REFLUXTMClassifier

Investigation of Internal Classification in Coarse Particle Flotation of Chalcopyrite Using the CoarseAIRTM

Beneficiation of High-Density Tantalum Ore in the REFLUX™ Concentrating Classifier Analysed Using Batch Fractionation Assay and Density Data

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Product

Resources

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Gravity separation of ultra-fine iron ore in the REFLUX^TMClassifier

Gravity separation of ultra-fine iron ore in the REFLUX^TMClassifier