Experimental study on the mechanical properties and consolidation mechanism of microbial grouted backfill

Backfill mining technology is the practice of returning waste materials underground for both disposal and geotechnical stability,however,a challenge with current technologies is that they commonly require cement-based binders which have a relatively high environmental impact.Finding alternatives to cement-based binders can improve environmental performance and this paper proposes microbial grouted backfill(MGB)as a potential solution.In this paper,the effects of the cementation solution concentration(CSC),volume ratio of bacterial solution to cementation solution(VRBC),particle sizes of the aggregates,and the number of grouting batches on the mechanical properties of MGB are studied.The experimental results show that MGB strength increased,up to a peak value,as CSC was increased,before decreasing as CSC was increased further.The results also show that MGB strength increased,up to a peak value,as VRBC decreased,before decreasing as the VRBC was decreased further.The peak strength was achieved at a CSC of 2 mol/L and a VRBC of 1:9.The strength of the MGB also increased as the number of grouting batches increased.Graded MGB samples showed the highest UCS,25.12 MPa,at particle sizes of 0.2 to 0.8 mm,while full(non-graded)MGB samples displayed mean UCS values ranging from1.56 MPa when the maximum particle size was 0.2 mm,up to 13 MPa when the maximum particle size was 1.2 mm.MGB samples are consolidated by the calcium carbonate that is precipitated during microbial metabolism,and the strength of MGB increases linearly as calcium carbonate content increases.The calcium carbonate minerals produced in MGB materials are primarily calcite,with secondary amounts of vaterite.

Strengthening pelletization of manganese ore fines containing high combined water by high pressure roll grinding and optimized temperature elevation system

Pelletization is one of useful processes for the agglomeration of iron ore or concentrates. However, manganese ore fines are mainly agglomerated by sintering due to its high combined water which adversely affects the roasting performance of pellets. In this work, high pressure roll grinding(HPRG) process and optimization of temperature elevation system were investigated to improve the strength of fired manganese ore pellets. It is shown that the manganese ore possesses good ballability after being pretreated by HPRG twice, and good green balls were produced under the conditions of blending 2.0% bentonite in the feed, balling for 7 min at 16.00% moisture. High quality roasted pellets with the compressive strength of 2711 N per pellet were manufactured through preheating at 1050 °C for 10 min and firing at 1335 °C for 15 min by controlling the cracks formation. The fired manganese pellets keep the strength by the solid interconnection of recrystallized pyrolusite grains and the binding of manganite liquid phase which filled the pores and clearance among minerals. The product pellets contain high Mn grade and low impurities, and can be used to smelt ferromanganese, which provides a possible way to use imported manganese ore fines containing high combined water to produce high value ferromanganese.