Affiliation:
1. School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China
Abstract
In the field of mineral processing, the successful flotation of target minerals requires sufficient liberation through grinding. The aim of this paper is to compare and evaluate the performance of ball versus short cylindrical media for comminution of dolomite by point and line contact, respectively. The results of the grinding experiments indicate that short cylinders generate more angular particles with intermediate sizes and exhibit a higher grinding efficiency compared to balls. The Population Balance Model demonstrates the distribution of broken fragment sizes during the breaking stage for each size range. The results of the DEM (discrete element method) grinding simulation are consistent with the experimental findings in terms of the distribution of particle sizes, the shape of the particles, and the distribution of broken fragment sizes. Furthermore, short cylinders selectively produce more active {104} crystal surface of dolomite, which possess a higher adsorption capacity with collectors and are preferentially floated as the concentrate. In reverse flotation for removal of dolomite, tests confirm that the products obtained from grinding with short cylinders exhibit a higher flotation recovery of dolomite compared to those obtained from ball grinding. This study provides a reference scheme for optimizing the grinding and flotation processes of valuable minerals.
Funder
National Key R&D program of China
Key Program for International S&T Cooperation Projects of China
Leading Talents of S&T Innovation of Hunan Province, China
Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hunan Province, China
Key Research and Development Program of Hunan Province, China
National 111 Project, China
Subject
Geology,Geotechnical Engineering and Engineering Geology