Process mineralogy approach to optimize curing-leaching in vanadiumbearing stone coal processing plants

The purpose of this study is to apply process mineralogy as a practical tool to further understand and analyze the reasons for low leaching rates in the curing-leaching process of vanadium-bearing stone coal and to find a solution or improvement to optimize the leaching index.Using vanadium-bearing stone coal with the V2O5 mass fraction of 0.88%as the research object,the effects of particle size,mineral composition,and sulfuric acid curing on the feed,intermediate,and final products of curing-leaching were analyzed.The main vanadium-bearing minerals in the feed samples included sericite/illite,montmorillonite,kaolinite,limonite,and schreyerite.Through the penetration depth analysis of sulfuric acid,the reason for the high vanadium content in the coarse leaching residue(0.205%V2O5)was found,mainly due to the poor curing effect and incomplete washing after screening.Therefore,thorough washing after sieving and further optimizing the curing process are necessary.The vanadium content of the fine leaching residue(0.078%)was low and the curing-leaching effect was good.However,the vanadium content in the thickened residue(0.296%)exceeded that in the fine leaching residue,which was attributed to the neutralization reaction in the#1 thickener.To solve this problem,the neutralization and thickening processes should be performed in separate equipment.The analysis and detection of key products is helpful for identifying problems and improving the curing-leaching circuit process.

NEW PROGRESS IN MINERAL PROCESSING——REPORT ON FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODERN PROCESS MINERALOGY AND MINERAL PROCESSING

The first International Conference on Modern Process Mineralogy and Mineral Processing, organized by the Nonferrous Metals Society of China and hosted by Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy,was held on September 22-25,1992,in Beijing,China.About 350 scholars and experts from 25 countries and regions showed up at the conference and 130 papers were presented,among them 98 papers are of mineral processing.Some of the papers given in mineral processing are summed up as follows.

Process mineralogy of copper-nickel sulphide flotation by a cyclonic-static micro-bubble flotation column

In our study we investigated a refractory copper-nickel sulfide ore separation by using a cyclonic-static micro-bubble flotation column (FCSMC). The process mineralogy of the main products was studied. Using a scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive system (SEM-EDS) and an X-ray spectrometer the mineral category and content of samples were analyzed. By using a mineral liberation analyzer (MLA) the mineral liberation characteristics were revealed. It is shown that in roughing feed the monomers liberation degree of nickel pyrite and chalcopyrite take up 84.11% and 88.82%, respectively. In tailings, the lost nickel pyrite and chalcopyrite are mainly monomers. Therefore, strengthening the micro-fine particle recovery capacity is the key to increase recovery.

Process mineralogy and characteristic associations of iron and phosphorus-based minerals on oolitic hematite

The chemical compositions,mineralogical characteristics,as well as dissemination of iron-and phosphorus-based minerals were studied for the E’xi oolitic hematite from western Hubei Province in China by using chemical analysis,optical microscope,electron probe micro-analyzer(EPMA)and energy dispersive spectroscopy(EDS).It is found that this kind of oolitic hematite ore contains 47.71%TFe,10.96%SiO_2,as well as 0.874%P,with hematite as the dominant Fe-bearing minerals,and quartz,chamosite,illite and cellophane as main gangue minerals.The microscope examination showed that the ore has an oolitic structure,with some ooids principally formed by a series of concentric layers of hematite collophanite around nucleus that is hematite in the association with collophanite.Based on the EPMA and EDS analysis,it can be known that some ooids are primarily composed of hematite and collophanite.The separation can be achieved through fine grinding for those collophanite laminae with a higher P content.However,the dissemination of two minerals at the interface will result in the difficulty in effective separation.Besides,some ooids are made of chamosite with some nucleus formed of quartz,which is principally finely disseminated with hematite.In view of the close association and dissemination of iron-and phosphorus-based minerals in the ooids,it is found that the process of stage-grindings and stage-separations can be adopted to effectively increase the iron recovery and decrease the P content in the concentrate to some extent.

Relationship between process mineralogical characterization and beneficiability of low-grade laterite nickel ore

Process mineralogy of low-grade laterite nickel ore in Indonesia was systematically characterized and the beneficiation process of mineral components such as limonite,serpentine and chromite was studied on the basis of process mineralogy.The results show that the low-grade laterite nickel ore is a typical weathering sedimentary metamorphic oxidized ore,with the main valuable elements of Ni,Co and Cr and the main mineral components of limonite,serpentine,chromite,etc.There is no independent carrier mineral of Ni and Co in the raw ore,and the occurrence states of Ni and Co are relatively dispersed.For the limonite in laterite nickel mine,the nickel bearing magnetite concentrate with nickel grade of 1.98%and recovery rate of 88.42%can be obtained by reduction roasting magnetic separation process.For the serpentine in laterite nickel mine,the cobalt bearing concentrate with Co grade of 0.17%and recovery rate of 23.17%can be obtained by positive and reverse flotation process.A chromium concentrate containing 35.17%Cr_(2)O_(3) and a recovery of 33.42%can be obtained by using the combined process of coarse and fine classification and gravity and magnetic.

Acid equilibrium during bioleaching of alkaline low-grade sulfide copper ore

This article reports the study on acid equilibrium during bioleaching of alkaline low-grade copper sulfide ore. Adding auxiliary agents 1# （sulfur） and 2# （pyrite） makes bacterial leaching of copper and acid production carried out simultaneously because the auxiliary agents can be oxidized by bacteria and the oxidation products involve acid. The acid required for dissolving alkaline gangue during bacterial leaching is produced, and acid equilibrium is reached during the ore bio-leaching. The recovery of copper reaches more than 95%.

Biooxidation-thiosulfate leaching of refractory gold concentrate

A process of biooxidation followed by thiosulfate leaching of gold from refractory gold concentrate was investigated.Mineralogical studies on the concentrate showed that very fine gold grains(<10μm)were encapsulated in pyrite and arsenopyrite,while the proportion of monomer gold was only 21%.The gold-bearing sample was identified as a high-sulfur fine-sized wrapped-type refractory gold concentrate.The gold leaching efficiency obtained by direct cyanidation was only 59.86%.After biooxidation pretreatment,the sulfide minerals were almost completely decomposed,92 wt%of the mineral particles of the biooxidation residue were decreased to<38μm,and the proportion of monomer gold in the biooxidation residue was over 86%.Meanwhile,the gold content in the biooxidation residue was enriched to 55.60 g/t,and the S,Fe,and As contents were reduced to approximately 19.8 wt%,6.97 wt%,and 0.13 wt%,respectively.Ammoniacal thiosulfate was used for gold extraction from the biooxidation residue of the refractory gold concentrate.The results showed that the optimal reagent conditions were 0.18 M thiosulfate,0.02 M copper(II),1.0 M ammonia,and 0.24 M sulfite.Under these conditions,a maximum gold leaching efficiency of 85.05%was obtained.

Cyanide removal for ultrafine gold cyanide residues by chemical oxidation methods

Because of the highly toxic cyanide in the gold cyanide residues,cyanide must be removed for environmental protection.The process mineralogy of residues was studied firstly,and then cyanide removal was carried out by three chemical methods.The results showed that the residue mainly contained Si,S and Fe.Pyrite was the main metallic mineral,and the iron-complex cyanides make cyanide removal difficult.The minerals in residues were in ultrafine particle size with high monomer dissociation degrees.In H_(2)O_(2)oxidation process,the self-decomposition and side reactions resulted in high consumption of H_(2)O_(2).In Na_(2)S_(2)O_(5)-air oxidation process,the time for complete process was long because of the reactions between Na_(2)S_(2)O_(5)and O_(2).Na_(2)SO_(3)oxidation method was found to be a new method for cyanide removal without air inflation device.The cyanide content was reduced to the national standard level in 90 min at pH 9.0 with optimum Na_(2)SO_(3)dose of 2.0 g/L.

Study on washability of microcrystal graphite using float-sink tests

This article presented an experimental research on washability of microcrystal graphite using float-sink tests.Chemical and X-ray analyses showed that graphite,semi-graphite,meta-anthracite,and anthracite existed together in this microcrystal graphite sample;and the intergrowth relationship between microcrystal graphite and gangues was very complicated based on optical mineralogy research.The results of float-sink tests revealed that:for the-25+0.5 mm size fraction,about 68%(by weight)of microcrystal graphite was obtained at the density of 2.0 g/cm^3.and the float product met the standard of commercial grade W65;for the-0.5 mm size fraction,58%(by weight)of microcrystal graphite was floated at the density of 2.0 g/cm^3,which met the standard of commercial grade W70.It can be concluded that microcrystal graphite may be upgraded by dense media separation(DMS)providing a float product using as the raw materials of casting or refractories.

A review on vanadium extraction techniques from major vanadium-containing resources

The critical role of vanadium in metallurgy and the increasing commercialization of vanadium redox flow batteries have contributed to a rise in market demand for vanadium,emphasizing the need to ensure the sustainability of vanadium production.Converter vanadium slag and stone coal,generated during the smelting process of vanadium–titanium magnetite,serve as primary raw materials for vanadium extraction.This paper reviews the process mineralogy of converter vanadium slag and stone coal,encompassing the chemical and physical phase compositions of the raw materials and the state of vanadium occurrence.The aim is to establish a theoretical foundation for the mechanistic study of the vanadium extraction techniques and to provide a reference for the optimization of the process afterward.This paper systematically summarizes the current vanadium extraction technology from converter vanadium slag,covering roasting,direct leaching,sub-molten salt method,and the technology and research status of vanadium extraction from stone coal.Most importantly,it identifies key issues in the current vanadium extraction techniques and challenges faced in actual production,based on the analysis of the current vanadium extraction process and mechanism research.The forward feasibility and prospects for the development of vanadium extraction technology are outlined.

Characteristics of mineralogical technology about medium-low grade bio-chip containing the rare earth dolomitic phosphorite in Xinhua,Zhijin,Guizhou

Using microscopic observation,chemical analysis,scanning electron microscopy,spectrum analysis and ICP-MS analysis,composition of rare earth bioclastic phosphate rock in Zhijin,China,was discussed.Using relevant statistical methods of particle size characteristics of phosphate rock and the mosaic relationship provided the relevant basic data of mineral processing.