Quantitative investigation on micro-parameters of cemented paste backfill and its sensitivity analysis

The mechanical properties of cemented paste backfill(CPB) depend heavily on its pore structural characteristics and micro-structural changes. In order to explore the variation mechanisms of macro-mechanical characteristics and micro-structure of CPB. CPB specimens with different mass concentrations prepared from the full tailings of Xianglushan Tungsten Ore were micro-tests. Moreover, acquired pore digital images were processed by using the pores(particles) and cracks analysis system(PCAS), and a sensitivity analysis was performed. The results show that as the mass concentration of CPB increases from 70% to 78%, the porosity, the average pore area and the number of pores drop overall, leading to a decline in the pores opening degree and enhancing the mechanical characteristics. As the mass concentration of CPB increases, the trend of fractal dimension, probability entropy and roundness is reduced, constant and increased, which can result in an enhancement of the uniformity, an unchanged directionality and more round pores. According to the definition of sensitivity, the sensitivities of various micro-parameters were calculated and can be ranked as porosity > average pore area > number of pores > roundness > fractal dimension > probability entropy.

Effect of fluxes on high iron and low silica sintering

Burnt lime and serpentine were incorporated into the sinter mix to improve high iron and low silica sinte-ring. Optimization of how to use burnt lime including dosage of burnt lime, moisture of sinter mix, hydrating andgranulation time was performed. Evaluations of sinter characteristics including sinter mineralogy, reducibility, lowtemperature reduction degradation, softening and melting down properties were carried out. Compared with the re-sults of traditional process in base case, the tumbling index (TI) is increased by 1.53%-2.33% through proportio-ning high ratio of burnt lime or adding serpentine in the sinter mix. It is shown that effective granulation, better per-meability and improved high temperature reactivity in the sinter bed are achieved, resulting in an increase in 3.13 %- 5.10% calcium ferrite occurring in acicular and columnar shape and decrease in glass phase, and with the reduc-ibility index(RI) being increased by 1.65%- 3.25%.

Modelling and process optimisation of antimony removal from a complex copper concentrate

The modelling and optimization for the alkaline sulphide leaching of a complex copper concentrate containing 1.69% Sb and 0.14% Sn were studied.Response surface methodology,in combination with central composite face-centred design（RSM-CCF）,was used to optimise the operating parameters.The leaching temperature,sulphide ion concentration and solid concentration were chosen as the variables,and the response parameters were antimony and tin recovery,and the time required to achieve 90% Sb dissolution.It was confirmed that the leaching process was strongly dependent on the reaction temperature as well as the sulphide ion concentration without any significant dependence on the solid concentration.Furthermore,a mathematical model was constructed to characterise the leaching behaviour.The results from the model allow identification of the most favourable leaching conditions.The model was validated experimentally,and the results show that the model is reliable and accurate in predicting the leaching process.

DISCRETE PARTICLE SIMULATION OF SIZE SEGREGATION OF PARTICLE MIXTURES IN A GAS FLUIDIZED BED

This paper presents a study of the mixing/segregation behaviour of particle mixtures in a gas fluidized bed by use of the discrete particle simulation. Spherical particles with diameters 2 mm （jetsam） and 1 mm （flotsam） and density 2 500 kg.m^-3 are used as solid mixtures with different volume fractions. The particles are initially packed uniformly in a rectangular bed and then fluidized by gas uniformly injected at the bottom of the bed. The gas injection velocities vary to cover fixed, partially and fully fluidized bed conditions. Segregation/mixing behaviour is discussed in terms of flow patterns, solid concentration profile and mixing kinetics. The results show that segregation, as a transient fluidization process, is strongly affected by gas injection velocities for a given particle mixture. With the increase of the volume fraction of flotsam, size segregation appears at lower velocities.