Reducing water and energy use in minerals processing

采矿业是加拿大的一个大雇主和财富创造者。 随着最近商品价格的下跌和高品位资源的持续枯竭，有必要开发技术，以提高矿物和金属开采的效率和可持续性。 需要创新来确保加拿大保持竞争力，并保持与初级金属加工相关的长期高薪工作。 该研究计划的目标是开发技术，以减少矿物加工中的水和能源使用，同时提高整体工艺性能。 将特别关注低级资源。具体而言，将在四个相互关联的领域进行研究：*1。微波在矿物加工中的应用。微波可用于在材料中有效地和瞬时地产生热量，并且微波技术在降低矿物提纯的能量需求方面具有巨大的潜力。 将研究纯矿物和矿石的微波性质，以及微波处理对矿物表面性质的影响和对矿物分离的影响。2.矿物加工流变学。低品位和复杂的矿石通常需要细磨，并含有有问题的脉石矿物，这两者都可能导致复杂的流变性。 稀释是矿物加工中用于抵消不期望的浆料流变性的主要策略之一，这增加了加工中的水和能量使用。 在这项研究中，低品位矿浆的流变学和表面化学将被检查。 将建立浆料流变性和加工性能之间的相关性，并制定战略以减少水和能源的使用并优化工艺性能。3.粉碎能量降低。虽然采矿和碾磨作业的每一步都要使用能源，但最大的能源消耗是粉碎。在进一步分离之前，需要粉碎或减小颗粒尺寸以从不期望的材料中释放有价值的矿物。 在这项研究中，将研究使用颗粒弱化技术，如微波和高压脉冲处理，以及通过浮选分离粗颗粒，以降低总体粉碎能量。4.矿物加工中使用的盐水。大多数矿物加工作业使用大量的水。 由于许多地区缺乏淡水，许多选矿厂被迫使用盐水进行加工。 由于大量溶解离子的存在可以改变水的结构、颗粒润湿性和胶体相互作用，因此电解质有可能影响矿物加工的各个方面。 这项研究将审查在研磨和浮选作业中使用盐水的影响，目的是利用这一资源改善低品位矿石的加工。

The mining industry is a large employer and generator of wealth in Canada. With the recent downturn in commodity prices and continuing depletion of high-grade resources, it is necessary to develop technologies to increase the efficiency and sustainability of minerals and metals extraction. Innovation is required to ensure Canada remains competitive, and to preserve the long-term, high-paying jobs associated with primary metals processing. The objective of the research program is to develop techniques to reduce water and energy in minerals processing use while improving overall process performance. There will be a special focus on low-grade resources. Specifically, research will be conducted in four interrelated areas:****1. Microwave applications in mineral processing. Microwaves can be used to efficiently and instantaneously generate heat in materials and there is great potential for microwave technology to reduce the energy requirements of mineral beneficiation. The microwave properties of pure minerals and ores will be investigated, as will the effect of microwave treatment on the surface properties of minerals and resultant effects on mineral separation.****2. Rheology in mineral processing. Low-grade and complex ores often require fine grinding and contain problematic gangue minerals, both of which can lead to complex rheology. Dilution is one of the main strategies used in mineral processing to offset undesirable slurry rheology, which increases both water and energy use in processing. In this study, the rheology and surface chemistry of low-grade ore slurries will be examined. Correlations between slurry rheology and processability will be established, and strategies will be developed to reduce water and energy use and optimize process performance.****3. Comminution energy reduction. While energy is used in every step of mining and milling operations, the largest energy consumer is comminution. Comminution, or particle size reduction, is required for the liberation of valuable minerals from undesirable material prior to further separation. In this study, the use of particle weakening techniques, such as microwave and high-voltage pulse treatment, as well as the separation of coarse particles by flotation, will be investigated for overall comminution energy reduction.****4. Saline water use in mineral processing. Most mineral processing operations use substantial amounts of water. Due to the scarcity of fresh water in many areas, many concentrators are forced to use saline water for processing. Since the presence of substantial dissolved ions can alter water structure, particle wettability, and colloidal interactions, electrolytes have the potential to influence all aspects of mineral processing. This study will examine the effects of saline water use in grinding and flotation operations with the objective of using this resource to improve the processing of low-grade ores.***