Potential Benefits in Copper Sulphides Liberation through Application of HRC Device in Ore Comminution Circuits

Abstract

The article presents results of investigations on a high-pressure comminution process carried out in the roller press device, aiming at potential improvement of effectiveness of downstream beneficiation operations. The major point of interest of the paper concerned an assessment of the useful mineral liberation in relation to the volume of operating pressing force in the press device. Obtained results of mineral liberation were compared to flotation effects and downstream grinding process in a ball mill. Environmental influence in terms of dust emission was also analysed. The feed material was crushed in the high-pressure roller crusher (HRC) device under four different values of pressing force (Fsp): 3.0, 3.5, 4.0 and 4.5 N/mm2. Each product then underwent the liberation analysis, together with determination the energy savings through calculation of Bond’s working index, flotation recoveries and grinding kinetics. Results of investigations showed that both the most favourable crushing results and mineral liberation level were achieved for the highest values of operational pressing force. Nevertheless, the observed effects were less than linear together with further increasing of Fsp in HRC device. However, the obtained results of investigation unambiguously showed that pressing force affects the obtained crushing results: comminution degrees and flotation recoveries were higher while the duration of downstream grinding operation and grinding energy consumption were lower.