Environmentally Benign Flotation Chemicals. The research described in this proposal and the anticipated outcomes are concerned with replacing toxic and environmentally hazardous chemicals used in the mineral processing industry with benign chemicals that are biodegradable and have low toxicity. Replacing these chemicals reduces the risk of workplace injuries and damage to the environment that could be caused by industrial accidents.
Matching flotation concentrate composition to downstream processing in copper production at the Olympic Dam operations of BHP Billiton. This research is important for the Australian and South Australian economies. There are both large capital and operating costs benefits if a successful and robust mineral separation can be achieved. Being able to separate different copper sulphide minerals in copper concentrates will have global significance. In the particular case of Olympic Dam mine, the imp ....Matching flotation concentrate composition to downstream processing in copper production at the Olympic Dam operations of BHP Billiton. This research is important for the Australian and South Australian economies. There are both large capital and operating costs benefits if a successful and robust mineral separation can be achieved. Being able to separate different copper sulphide minerals in copper concentrates will have global significance. In the particular case of Olympic Dam mine, the impact of being able to separate the copper sulphide minerals at the mineral processing stage is a significant reduction in operating costs, which is a result of reduced ore handling, mining and smelting costs.Read moreRead less
Optimising the Recovery of Fine and Coarse Particles in Mineral Flotation. The collection of fine (<10 microns) and coarse (>100 microns) mineral particles by gas bubbles is the very heart of the selective froth flotation process. In the flotation of minerals, losses of fine and coarse value minerals equate to approximately $500M annually in Australia alone. The significance of flotation to the Australian economy may be judged from the fact that over $39b in commodity exports was derived from t ....Optimising the Recovery of Fine and Coarse Particles in Mineral Flotation. The collection of fine (<10 microns) and coarse (>100 microns) mineral particles by gas bubbles is the very heart of the selective froth flotation process. In the flotation of minerals, losses of fine and coarse value minerals equate to approximately $500M annually in Australia alone. The significance of flotation to the Australian economy may be judged from the fact that over $39b in commodity exports was derived from the minerals and energy industries in 2001, rising to well over $75b in 2005 (Australian Bureau of Statistics). These industries produce mineral concentrates of specific interest to our Industry Partner, such as copper, nickel, zinc and coal.Read moreRead less
Optimising Froth Zone Performance in Mineral Flotation. Froth flotation is the most widely applied technique for the selective separation of valuable mineral from gangue mineral particles. This project aims to optimize the selective separation of valuable minerals from gangue minerals within the froth zone of flotation. This project has very high national significance as deficiencies in the froth zone performance of industrial flotation plants, leads to a significant loss of valuable mineral f ....Optimising Froth Zone Performance in Mineral Flotation. Froth flotation is the most widely applied technique for the selective separation of valuable mineral from gangue mineral particles. This project aims to optimize the selective separation of valuable minerals from gangue minerals within the froth zone of flotation. This project has very high national significance as deficiencies in the froth zone performance of industrial flotation plants, leads to a significant loss of valuable mineral from mineral concentrates, as well as a reduction in concentrate grade and quality. An expected outcome of this project will be a series of new tools and methodologies to optimize froth zone performance, which will have industry wide application.Read moreRead less
The recovery of Cu from chalcopyrite-pyrite containing concentrates, ores and tailings. Chalcopyrite, a major source of Cu, is often associated in ores with the valueless mineral pyrite. The development of more efficient methods for the retrieval of the Cu is of considerable economic importance to Australian minerals processing companies. We aim to develop methodologies allowing the more efficient :
- separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite;
- leaching of Cu from ores and tailing in a heap leach ....The recovery of Cu from chalcopyrite-pyrite containing concentrates, ores and tailings. Chalcopyrite, a major source of Cu, is often associated in ores with the valueless mineral pyrite. The development of more efficient methods for the retrieval of the Cu is of considerable economic importance to Australian minerals processing companies. We aim to develop methodologies allowing the more efficient :
- separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite;
- leaching of Cu from ores and tailing in a heap leach environment and
- leaching of Cu in a concentrated chalcopyrite-pyrite reactor environment.
These aims will be achieved via an integrated surface-solution speciation approach allowing the manipulation of surface properties.
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Optimising the Capture of Fine and Coarse Particles in Mineral Flotation. The aim of this project is to optimise the physical conditions for the capture of both fine and coarse particles by gas bubbles in flotation. The projects significance lies in the fact that fine and coarse particles represent the major economic loss of minerals in flotation. New methods to characterise the physical environment in flotation, as well as new approaches to modelling flotation will be expected outcomes of the ....Optimising the Capture of Fine and Coarse Particles in Mineral Flotation. The aim of this project is to optimise the physical conditions for the capture of both fine and coarse particles by gas bubbles in flotation. The projects significance lies in the fact that fine and coarse particles represent the major economic loss of minerals in flotation. New methods to characterise the physical environment in flotation, as well as new approaches to modelling flotation will be expected outcomes of the project.
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Anomalous interfacial air-bubble dynamics: the importance of electrokinetic effects in thin film drainage. Air bubbles play important roles in numerous systems including plastics and paper recycling, water treatment and mineral separation processes, foodstuffs, beverages, cosmetics, cleaning products, fire retardants, and natural systems such as rivers, oceans and biological fluids. The properties and behaviour of these systems and processes depend on how air bubbles in water interact with each ....Anomalous interfacial air-bubble dynamics: the importance of electrokinetic effects in thin film drainage. Air bubbles play important roles in numerous systems including plastics and paper recycling, water treatment and mineral separation processes, foodstuffs, beverages, cosmetics, cleaning products, fire retardants, and natural systems such as rivers, oceans and biological fluids. The properties and behaviour of these systems and processes depend on how air bubbles in water interact with each other, and/or with other materials. Currently our understanding of the bubble interactions is incomplete. The improved understanding gained from this research project will lead to better ability to control the properties of systems and processes such as those listed above.Read moreRead less
Polymers at Mineral Interfaces. Polymers are used widely in the mineral processing industry to alter mineral surfaces, often selectively. In spite of this, there remains a gap in our understanding of how polymers interact with mineral surfaces and how their surface structure affects the mineral surface properties. The aim of this project is to fill this gap by performing fundamental research on adsorbed polymer structure and properties, coupled with applied research on real mineral ores from a ....Polymers at Mineral Interfaces. Polymers are used widely in the mineral processing industry to alter mineral surfaces, often selectively. In spite of this, there remains a gap in our understanding of how polymers interact with mineral surfaces and how their surface structure affects the mineral surface properties. The aim of this project is to fill this gap by performing fundamental research on adsorbed polymer structure and properties, coupled with applied research on real mineral ores from a number of mineral companies. The combination of fundamental and applied research makes this project unique in the study of polymers at mineral interfaces, and will enable us to solve real processing problems through a rational choice of polymers for a given application.Read moreRead less
Polymers in the Depression, Aggregation and Dispersion of Particles in the Mineral Industry. The aim of this project is to use a generic approach to the selection of the best-suited polymer for specific applications such as in the depression, aggregation and dispersion of particles in the mineral industry. A "tool box" of particular tests will be developed based on key chemical structure-solid surface activity relationships between the polymer and the host solid surface in each application consi ....Polymers in the Depression, Aggregation and Dispersion of Particles in the Mineral Industry. The aim of this project is to use a generic approach to the selection of the best-suited polymer for specific applications such as in the depression, aggregation and dispersion of particles in the mineral industry. A "tool box" of particular tests will be developed based on key chemical structure-solid surface activity relationships between the polymer and the host solid surface in each application considered. Potential process improvements leading to improved flotation grades, increased fine particle recovery, increased slurry throughput in pipelines and decrease in reagent dosage will result.Read moreRead less
An integrated study of dynamic interactions in soft matter systems. Established Australian pharmaceutical, dairy and food processing industries and growing high-value biotechnology and nanotechnology rely on the processing and control of a generic class of materials called Soft Matter. Cost driven demands for high throughput and increasing water and energy conservation requirements will be met by advances in the underpinning engineering science pursued in this project. In addition to increasing ....An integrated study of dynamic interactions in soft matter systems. Established Australian pharmaceutical, dairy and food processing industries and growing high-value biotechnology and nanotechnology rely on the processing and control of a generic class of materials called Soft Matter. Cost driven demands for high throughput and increasing water and energy conservation requirements will be met by advances in the underpinning engineering science pursued in this project. In addition to increasing the international competitiveness of Australian industries in high value products, the research outcomes also add to the knowledge capacity of the nation for future technological developments.Read moreRead less