Experimental and numerical studies of the packing and piling of coal. This project is oriented to the coal and steel industries, which are important to Australia. In fact, the coal industry creates a significant employment and produces 80% of electricity in Australia. Australia is also the world's biggest coal exporter. This project will develop methods to control the packing and piling processes of coal, which are of fundamental importance to many granular processes. The benefits from the proje ....Experimental and numerical studies of the packing and piling of coal. This project is oriented to the coal and steel industries, which are important to Australia. In fact, the coal industry creates a significant employment and produces 80% of electricity in Australia. Australia is also the world's biggest coal exporter. This project will develop methods to control the packing and piling processes of coal, which are of fundamental importance to many granular processes. The benefits from the project include improvements in productivity, coke quality and fuel efficiency, which will lead reduced energy consumption and pollution emission and thereby improve the competitiveness of Australia's coal and steel industries. Read moreRead less
Experimental and numerical studies of the packing of alumina powders. This project is to investigate the packing of alumina powders at both microscopic and macroscopic levels by means of physical and numerical experiments, aiming to develop a comprehensive understanding of the underlying physics and computer models for predicting the packing properties under conditions corresponding to different operations in alumina refining and smelting processes. It will generate an effective method to solve ....Experimental and numerical studies of the packing of alumina powders. This project is to investigate the packing of alumina powders at both microscopic and macroscopic levels by means of physical and numerical experiments, aiming to develop a comprehensive understanding of the underlying physics and computer models for predicting the packing properties under conditions corresponding to different operations in alumina refining and smelting processes. It will generate an effective method to solve the complex packing problems for process and/or property control in alumina/aluminium industry.Read moreRead less
Particle scale modelling of dense medium cyclones in coal preparation. Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter, and black coal is Australia's largest export, worth around $A13.5 billion annually. Dense medium cyclones process the vast majority of tonnes fed to Australian coal preparation plants, and hence play a critical economic role in coal production. This project aims at providing substantial design and operational improvements through the application of a novel combined continuum and ....Particle scale modelling of dense medium cyclones in coal preparation. Australia is the world's biggest coal exporter, and black coal is Australia's largest export, worth around $A13.5 billion annually. Dense medium cyclones process the vast majority of tonnes fed to Australian coal preparation plants, and hence play a critical economic role in coal production. This project aims at providing substantial design and operational improvements through the application of a novel combined continuum and discrete modelling method. Specifically, the improvements targeted relate to better process and product control, a decrease in unit energy consumption and improvements in productivity, which, together with the research training offered, will further enhance Australia's leading position in global coal industry.Read moreRead less
Optimisation of Coal Flotation Performance. The aim of this project is to improve the cleaning of coal by flotation across the whole particle size range with maximum rejection of mineral matter and decreased reagent consumption. The factors that influence coal flotation will be identified and used to predict coal flotation performance. In particular the ultimate separability of coal will be addressed through a unique combination of in- and ex- situ pulp chemical and physical measurements, embedd ....Optimisation of Coal Flotation Performance. The aim of this project is to improve the cleaning of coal by flotation across the whole particle size range with maximum rejection of mineral matter and decreased reagent consumption. The factors that influence coal flotation will be identified and used to predict coal flotation performance. In particular the ultimate separability of coal will be addressed through a unique combination of in- and ex- situ pulp chemical and physical measurements, embedded in a comprehensive model of coal flotation.Read moreRead less
The effect of contaminant carbon films on the leaching of gold. A major problem in cyanidation is preg-robbing, which results in severe gold losses to tailings. Too much emphasis has been placed on the blinding and characterisation of free carbon or graphite particles, instead of considering carbon or graphite as a layer on top of other ore particles. It is the aim of this project to investigate the effect of contaminant carbon layers on the leaching of gold from sulphide ores. The understanding ....The effect of contaminant carbon films on the leaching of gold. A major problem in cyanidation is preg-robbing, which results in severe gold losses to tailings. Too much emphasis has been placed on the blinding and characterisation of free carbon or graphite particles, instead of considering carbon or graphite as a layer on top of other ore particles. It is the aim of this project to investigate the effect of contaminant carbon layers on the leaching of gold from sulphide ores. The understanding of the exact role of carbon layers on mineral surfaces in both preg-robbing and leaching is essential to devise process strategies that could lead to improved extraction.Read moreRead less
BIOPROSPECTING FOR NOVEL EXTRACTANTS TO SEPARATE NICKEL AND COBALT. Cobalt (Co) is a common 'guest' element in nickel (Ni) ore. Separating these metals is crucial to the production of high purity of Ni and Co, valuable metals for the Australian economy. Currently, processing of Ni-ore relies on energy-intensive dissolution followed by separation of Co from Ni using expensive synthetic chelators. A few rare Ni- and Co-accumulating plants however, have evolved biochemical mechanisms to distingu ....BIOPROSPECTING FOR NOVEL EXTRACTANTS TO SEPARATE NICKEL AND COBALT. Cobalt (Co) is a common 'guest' element in nickel (Ni) ore. Separating these metals is crucial to the production of high purity of Ni and Co, valuable metals for the Australian economy. Currently, processing of Ni-ore relies on energy-intensive dissolution followed by separation of Co from Ni using expensive synthetic chelators. A few rare Ni- and Co-accumulating plants however, have evolved biochemical mechanisms to distinguish between Ni and Co. We propose the first determination of the mechanisms of Ni/Co discrimination in these unusual plants, effectively biosprospecting for novel commercial extractants to separate Ni and Co. Read moreRead less
Fundamental studies of the packing and compaction of fine particles. This project will investigate the fundamentals of the packing and compaction of fine particles at both microscopic and macroscopic levels through a combined theoretical and experimental program. It involves the use of advanced techniques to generate particle scale information, so that a packing and compaction process can be assessed at various time and length scales. It will produce a comprehensive understanding of the underlyi ....Fundamental studies of the packing and compaction of fine particles. This project will investigate the fundamentals of the packing and compaction of fine particles at both microscopic and macroscopic levels through a combined theoretical and experimental program. It involves the use of advanced techniques to generate particle scale information, so that a packing and compaction process can be assessed at various time and length scales. It will produce a comprehensive understanding of the underlying physics, computer models capable of predicting the micromechanic and transport properties of porous media, and an effective means to solve many packing and compaction problems widely encountered in minerals and materials processing industries.Read moreRead less
Fundamental studies of screening processes in coal preparation. Screening is a most important unit operation widely used in industries but not well understood. This project will investigate the fundamentals governing the dynamic behaviour of coal slurry on desliming screens by a combined theoretical and experimental program. Its aim is to develop and validate a computer model that can simulate the operation under various conditions at a particle level, providing a cost effective way to quantify ....Fundamental studies of screening processes in coal preparation. Screening is a most important unit operation widely used in industries but not well understood. This project will investigate the fundamentals governing the dynamic behaviour of coal slurry on desliming screens by a combined theoretical and experimental program. Its aim is to develop and validate a computer model that can simulate the operation under various conditions at a particle level, providing a cost effective way to quantify the screening performance in relation to materials, machine and operation conditions. It will generate a basis for developing better design and control strategies of screen operation, resulting in an improved competitiveness of Australia's mineral industry.Read moreRead less
Numerical and experimental studies of the granular dynamics in IsaMill. IsaMill is a newly developed technology for fine grinding of minerals. This project will investigate the fundamentals governing the particle flow and dynamics in an IsaMill by a combined theoretical and experimental program. Its aim is to develop and validate a computer model that can simulate the particle flow at an individual particle level, providing a cost effective way to quantify the grinding performance in relation to ....Numerical and experimental studies of the granular dynamics in IsaMill. IsaMill is a newly developed technology for fine grinding of minerals. This project will investigate the fundamentals governing the particle flow and dynamics in an IsaMill by a combined theoretical and experimental program. Its aim is to develop and validate a computer model that can simulate the particle flow at an individual particle level, providing a cost effective way to quantify the grinding performance in relation to the properties of grinding medium and key operational variables. It will generate a basis for developing better design and control strategies of IsaMill process, resulting in an improved competitiveness of Australia's mineral industry.Read moreRead less
Ehanced Hydrodynamic Fractionation of Particles. The coal industry, which is a major contributor to the Australian economy, urgently needs a new washability method following its decision to abandon the existing laboratory standard. The existing method relies on the use of heavy organic liquids which are known to be toxic to human health. The 'water-based' approach proposed in this study overcomes the problem of risk to human health, thus benefiting Australian workers, the immediate industry, and ....Ehanced Hydrodynamic Fractionation of Particles. The coal industry, which is a major contributor to the Australian economy, urgently needs a new washability method following its decision to abandon the existing laboratory standard. The existing method relies on the use of heavy organic liquids which are known to be toxic to human health. The 'water-based' approach proposed in this study overcomes the problem of risk to human health, thus benefiting Australian workers, the immediate industry, and wider community. New separation technologies that could benefit the minerals industries and other key industries should follow. The project will also result in the education and training of two postgraduate students, and the advancement of two postdoctoral researchers in this area of industry. Read moreRead less