Particle-stabilised bubble and droplet interfaces. Small particles may replace or supplement detergents in a broad range of applications. This project will provide the fundamental knowledge to optimise the use of particles to stabilise foams and emulsions in a controlled manner. This will transform economically important processes in the mining, food science or personal care industries.
Hydrophobic particle recovery using permeable hydrophobic media. This project aims to solve an intractable problem in froth flotation. Bubbles will be replaced by permeable, hydrophobic media, minimising the viscous hydrodynamic resistance that limits ultrafine particle recovery. The project expects to generate new knowledge relating the efficacy of the novel media to its underlying physical structure, composition, geometry, and interfacial structure. Expected outcomes include a framework for de ....Hydrophobic particle recovery using permeable hydrophobic media. This project aims to solve an intractable problem in froth flotation. Bubbles will be replaced by permeable, hydrophobic media, minimising the viscous hydrodynamic resistance that limits ultrafine particle recovery. The project expects to generate new knowledge relating the efficacy of the novel media to its underlying physical structure, composition, geometry, and interfacial structure. Expected outcomes include a framework for developing alternative, highly permeable, hydrophobic media, and new high performance separation technologies. This is expected to benefit large scale, low-cost, ultrafast processing of particulate suspensions in mineral processing and waste water treatment.Read moreRead less
Surface characteristics and hydrodynamics in detachment of coarse particles. Froth flotation is widely used for separating coal and minerals from the gangue. The largest particles that can be floated in the industry are 10 times smaller than the particles that can be floated under quiescent conditions. This project aims to better understand and quantify the detachment of large particles from the bubble surface. It aims to develop innovative modelling and experimental approaches to examine the ef ....Surface characteristics and hydrodynamics in detachment of coarse particles. Froth flotation is widely used for separating coal and minerals from the gangue. The largest particles that can be floated in the industry are 10 times smaller than the particles that can be floated under quiescent conditions. This project aims to better understand and quantify the detachment of large particles from the bubble surface. It aims to develop innovative modelling and experimental approaches to examine the effect of particle surface characteristics and hydrodynamic conditions on coarse particle detachment and flotation. New ways to save energy by floating coarse composite particles are proposed to be developed. This research is at the forefront of flotation science and technology, and is expected to deliver significant outcomes to the mining industry.Read moreRead less
A high-rate process for mineral flotation. Flotation is an important operation in the minerals industry, the bedrock of Australia's prosperity. Currently it is hard to recover the finest valuable particles. A new device has been discovered that is up to a 100 times faster, giving improved recoveries and much lower capital cost. This project will investigate new phenomena used in the device.
Tuneable energy dissipation for optimal flotation recovery. This project aims to develop a new way of improving mineral flotation recovery of coarse particles. In mechanical cells, coarse particles can be detached due to high power input needed to suspend the solids. Fluidised beds provide a much gentler environment, but the flotation process cannot be optimally controlled because the bed conditions are determined by the incoming feed. This project will propose the addition of foreign particles ....Tuneable energy dissipation for optimal flotation recovery. This project aims to develop a new way of improving mineral flotation recovery of coarse particles. In mechanical cells, coarse particles can be detached due to high power input needed to suspend the solids. Fluidised beds provide a much gentler environment, but the flotation process cannot be optimally controlled because the bed conditions are determined by the incoming feed. This project will propose the addition of foreign particles that can be tuned to generate optimal conditions within the fluidised bed that maximise rate of capture of selected particles whilst minimising their tendency to detach. This new approach is expected to increase the size range of floatable particles resulting in a major reduction in grinding energy requirements.Read moreRead less
Enhanced Fractionation of Mineral Particles According to Density. Aims: -to achieve a significant advance in the hydrodynamic fractionation of particles on the basis of density, and develop an algorithm to deconvolve the fractionation data to produce the underlying density distribution of the particles. Significance: This density distribution, which is used in resource assessment, plant design, and process evaluation in mineral processing, is currently produced using toxic, and environmentally d ....Enhanced Fractionation of Mineral Particles According to Density. Aims: -to achieve a significant advance in the hydrodynamic fractionation of particles on the basis of density, and develop an algorithm to deconvolve the fractionation data to produce the underlying density distribution of the particles. Significance: This density distribution, which is used in resource assessment, plant design, and process evaluation in mineral processing, is currently produced using toxic, and environmentally damaging heavy liquids, despite the emergence of alternative mineral analysers. Expected Outcomes: -a safe, cost effective basis for generating the density distribution. Benefits: -increasing mineral resource recovery through improved access to critical data, while eliminating the need for the toxic heavy liquids.
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Predicting the recovery of composite mineral particles in froth flotation. This project aims to provide a new method of predicting the recovery of valuable metals such as copper, gold and lithium from ores using the flotation process. The project will provide new way of modelling the behaviour of individual flotation cells, and banks of cells in series. The project will provide benefits to existing operations such as the minerals and coal industries, which are heavy users of flotation technology ....Predicting the recovery of composite mineral particles in froth flotation. This project aims to provide a new method of predicting the recovery of valuable metals such as copper, gold and lithium from ores using the flotation process. The project will provide new way of modelling the behaviour of individual flotation cells, and banks of cells in series. The project will provide benefits to existing operations such as the minerals and coal industries, which are heavy users of flotation technology. New insights into the behaviour of composite particles will lead to more efficient operations and a new way of scale-up in the design of full-scale plant, which will permit designers to optimise circuits and minimise capital and operating costs.Read moreRead less
Flotation in high salt concentration: resolving critical knowledge gaps relating the ion effect on bubble production and behavior. Flotation separation of coal and mineral particles by attaching to rising air bubbles is significantly affected in high salt concentration but its exact mechanism still remains unclear. This project employs state-of-the-art surface sensitive spectroscopy and modeling tools to investigate how salt ions influence drainage and rupture of liquid films between two bubbles ....Flotation in high salt concentration: resolving critical knowledge gaps relating the ion effect on bubble production and behavior. Flotation separation of coal and mineral particles by attaching to rising air bubbles is significantly affected in high salt concentration but its exact mechanism still remains unclear. This project employs state-of-the-art surface sensitive spectroscopy and modeling tools to investigate how salt ions influence drainage and rupture of liquid films between two bubbles, and bubble production and behaviour relevant to the flotation processes. The research will develop better water use for coal and mineral flotation to reduce reagent usage and environmental impacts of water pollution. The project will contribute significantly to knowledge advancement in the coal and mineral industry.Read moreRead less
Flotation of composite particles. This project will address an important problem in the flotation process for the minerals industry, the recovery of composite particles, which are mixtures of pure mineral and host rock. The project will investigate several remarkable discoveries recently reported that have the potential to improve significantly the recovery of composites and, surprisingly, of particles of pure mineral as well. New flotation devices will be developed in which the flow conditions ....Flotation of composite particles. This project will address an important problem in the flotation process for the minerals industry, the recovery of composite particles, which are mixtures of pure mineral and host rock. The project will investigate several remarkable discoveries recently reported that have the potential to improve significantly the recovery of composites and, surprisingly, of particles of pure mineral as well. New flotation devices will be developed in which the flow conditions are highly favourable to the recovery of coarse and ultrafine particles, with potential to reduce the costs of grinding energy and milling media in concentrators by half.Read moreRead less
Hydrodynamic enhancement and transformation of flotation. The purpose of this project is to address emerging challenges in coal and mineral processing associated with the steep decline in the quality of mining assets and the long term resource demands of China and India. A major advance in flotation technology is expected, leading to the highest possible product grade at a given recovery.