Goethite is a metals-rich residue that occurs during zinc production. The feasibility of metal recovery from goethite has been demonstrated, but is not economically viable on an industrial scale. Therefore, goethite i...Goethite is a metals-rich residue that occurs during zinc production. The feasibility of metal recovery from goethite has been demonstrated, but is not economically viable on an industrial scale. Therefore, goethite is landfilled with considerable economic costs and environmental risks. The goal of this study is to evaluate the environmental performance of a new valorization strategy for goethite residues from zinc production, with the aims of: ① recovering the valuable zinc contained in the goethite and ② avoiding the landfilling of goethite by producing a clean byproduct. The presented goethite valoriza- tion strategy consists of a sequence of two processes: ① plasma fuming and ② inorganic polymerization of the fumed slag. Plasma fuming recovers the valuable metals by fuming the goethite. The metals-flee fumed slag undergoes a process of inorganic polymerization to form inorganic polymers, that can be used as a novel building material, as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concrete. Life- cycle assessment (LCA) is used to compare the environmental performance of the inorganic polymer with the environmental performances of equivalent OPC-based concrete. The LCA results show the tradeoff between the environmental burdens of the fuming process and inorganic polymerization versus the environmental benefits of metal recovery, OPC concrete substitution, and the avoidance of goethite land- filling. The goethite-based inorganic polymers production shows better performances in several environ- mental impact categories, thanks to the avoided landfilling of goethite. However, in other environmental impact categories, such as global warming, the goethite valorization is strongly affected by the high-energy requirements of the plasma-fuming process, which represent the environmental hotspots of the proposed goethite recycling scheme. The key elements toward the sustainability of goethite valorization have been identified, and include the use of a clean electric mix, more effective control of the fumed gas emissions, and a reduced use of fumed slag through increased efficiency of the inorganic polymerization process.展开更多
In Morocco, the phosphate industry generates by washing during the ore beneficiation in humid way, big quantities of sludge loaded in fine mineral particles (or slimes) with contents of water in the order of 90-95%....In Morocco, the phosphate industry generates by washing during the ore beneficiation in humid way, big quantities of sludge loaded in fine mineral particles (or slimes) with contents of water in the order of 90-95%. The specific consumption in water for the beneficiation of one tone of dry ore is approximately 0.6 m3. The management of this sludge and the recycling of process water are played to a schema of solid-liquid separation by flocculation, settling then stocking in basins of several dozens hectares. Recovered clear waters are recycled into the circuit of washing. The principal motivation of this work which is a part of EL MAA project is dedicated to the study of the impact of the speed of agitation on the flocculation behavior in terms of dewatering of the phosphate slimes and recycling of the process water. Study was driven on sample of slimes taken in entrance of the thickeners of a Moroccan washing plants, before flocculation. The raw slimes have a concentration in solid of 75.5 g·L^-1, a P205 grade of 17.3% and a free settling velocity 9 cm·h^-1. Fine fraction -2 μm, responsible for the poor settling of slimes is composed in practice of nearly 96% of smectite. It represents 9% of the dry solid content in the slimes. Measurements reveal important variations of the granulometric and textural properties of large floes in response to flocculation, opening ways of optimization for the velocity gradient.展开更多
Based on X-ray diffraction,optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis of the Dachang gold ore,it is showed that the sulfide of ore is the main carrier minerals of gold. A majority of gold is embedded...Based on X-ray diffraction,optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis of the Dachang gold ore,it is showed that the sulfide of ore is the main carrier minerals of gold. A majority of gold is embedded in pyrite and tetrahedrite as the form of inclusion and a small amount intergrowth with pyrite and gangue mineral,occasionally the presence is in form of monomer natural gold. The main factors which influence the recovery rate are sulfide mineral particle size,and the fine grained sulfide is beneficial for the dissociation and flotation of gold bearing minerals. The monomer dissociation degree of gold bearing minerals can reach91. 3%,when the grinding fineness is less than 0. 074 mm and grain level accounts as 80%. It is not conducive to the flotation of sulfide if the grinding fineness is low or high. It is difficult to completely dissociate the monomer if there is a small amount of pyrite and arsenopyrite in the ore. Therefore,before leaching the gold,it must conduct pretreatment to reach the ideal recovery rate of the gold,like roasting oxidation,pressure oxidation and biological oxidation. The fine microscopic gold has little influence on the gold recovery rate.展开更多
文摘Goethite is a metals-rich residue that occurs during zinc production. The feasibility of metal recovery from goethite has been demonstrated, but is not economically viable on an industrial scale. Therefore, goethite is landfilled with considerable economic costs and environmental risks. The goal of this study is to evaluate the environmental performance of a new valorization strategy for goethite residues from zinc production, with the aims of: ① recovering the valuable zinc contained in the goethite and ② avoiding the landfilling of goethite by producing a clean byproduct. The presented goethite valoriza- tion strategy consists of a sequence of two processes: ① plasma fuming and ② inorganic polymerization of the fumed slag. Plasma fuming recovers the valuable metals by fuming the goethite. The metals-flee fumed slag undergoes a process of inorganic polymerization to form inorganic polymers, that can be used as a novel building material, as an alternative to ordinary Portland cement (OPC)-based concrete. Life- cycle assessment (LCA) is used to compare the environmental performance of the inorganic polymer with the environmental performances of equivalent OPC-based concrete. The LCA results show the tradeoff between the environmental burdens of the fuming process and inorganic polymerization versus the environmental benefits of metal recovery, OPC concrete substitution, and the avoidance of goethite land- filling. The goethite-based inorganic polymers production shows better performances in several environ- mental impact categories, thanks to the avoided landfilling of goethite. However, in other environmental impact categories, such as global warming, the goethite valorization is strongly affected by the high-energy requirements of the plasma-fuming process, which represent the environmental hotspots of the proposed goethite recycling scheme. The key elements toward the sustainability of goethite valorization have been identified, and include the use of a clean electric mix, more effective control of the fumed gas emissions, and a reduced use of fumed slag through increased efficiency of the inorganic polymerization process.
文摘In Morocco, the phosphate industry generates by washing during the ore beneficiation in humid way, big quantities of sludge loaded in fine mineral particles (or slimes) with contents of water in the order of 90-95%. The specific consumption in water for the beneficiation of one tone of dry ore is approximately 0.6 m3. The management of this sludge and the recycling of process water are played to a schema of solid-liquid separation by flocculation, settling then stocking in basins of several dozens hectares. Recovered clear waters are recycled into the circuit of washing. The principal motivation of this work which is a part of EL MAA project is dedicated to the study of the impact of the speed of agitation on the flocculation behavior in terms of dewatering of the phosphate slimes and recycling of the process water. Study was driven on sample of slimes taken in entrance of the thickeners of a Moroccan washing plants, before flocculation. The raw slimes have a concentration in solid of 75.5 g·L^-1, a P205 grade of 17.3% and a free settling velocity 9 cm·h^-1. Fine fraction -2 μm, responsible for the poor settling of slimes is composed in practice of nearly 96% of smectite. It represents 9% of the dry solid content in the slimes. Measurements reveal important variations of the granulometric and textural properties of large floes in response to flocculation, opening ways of optimization for the velocity gradient.
文摘Based on X-ray diffraction,optical microscopy and scanning electron microscopy analysis of the Dachang gold ore,it is showed that the sulfide of ore is the main carrier minerals of gold. A majority of gold is embedded in pyrite and tetrahedrite as the form of inclusion and a small amount intergrowth with pyrite and gangue mineral,occasionally the presence is in form of monomer natural gold. The main factors which influence the recovery rate are sulfide mineral particle size,and the fine grained sulfide is beneficial for the dissociation and flotation of gold bearing minerals. The monomer dissociation degree of gold bearing minerals can reach91. 3%,when the grinding fineness is less than 0. 074 mm and grain level accounts as 80%. It is not conducive to the flotation of sulfide if the grinding fineness is low or high. It is difficult to completely dissociate the monomer if there is a small amount of pyrite and arsenopyrite in the ore. Therefore,before leaching the gold,it must conduct pretreatment to reach the ideal recovery rate of the gold,like roasting oxidation,pressure oxidation and biological oxidation. The fine microscopic gold has little influence on the gold recovery rate.