Application of advanced surface characterization technologies (ASCT) towards process optimization through diagnosis and problem-solving in flotation and extractive metallurgy

要提高金属回收的效率，需要优化策略，以反映在许多选矿作业中遇到的复杂矿物化学。追回方法(例如浮选和氰化)已经运行了一个多世纪。然而，矿物化学、矿物表面化学和试剂反应之间的定量关系只得到了适度的发展，缺乏提高效率的战略模型。大多数问题都是通过逐个案例的分析来解决的。这项拟议的研究旨在结合表面和药剂化学、浮选加工、电化学过程模型和应用冶金方面的专业知识，在两个主要领域制定优化策略：(1)硫化物浮选和控制措施，(2)金和贵金属回收。该项目的目的是开发工具和方法，以更好地确定控制过程效率的因素。我们相信，分析决策树的开发将是行业冶金专家的一项重要资产，在冶金过程中，高科技分析工具的应用往往被忽视，而倾向于更传统的方法。

Efficiency of metal recovery requires optimized strategies reflecting the complex mineral chemistry that is encountered in many mineral processing operations. Methods of recovery (eg. flotation and cyanidation) have operated for more than a century. However, a quantitative relationship between mineral chemistry, mineral surface chemistry and reaction to reagents is only modestly developed and strategic models for improved efficiency are lacking. Most problems are solved on a case-by-case analysis.The proposed research for 'Advanced surface characterization technologies towards process optimization for improved recoveries' combines expertise on surface and reagent chemistry, flotation processing, electro-chemical process models and applied metallurgy to develop optimization strategies in two major areas: (1) sulphide flotation and control measures and (2) gold and precious metal recovery.The aim of the project is to develop tools and methodologies to better identify factors controlling process efficiency. We believe that the development of an analytical decision tree will be a significant asset for industry metallurgists, where the application of high technology analytical tools to metallurgical processes is often overlooked in favor of more traditional approaches.