On the Use of Photometric Separation for the Processing of Techno-Genic Raw Materials

This work presents studies on the material composition and physico-mechanical characteristics of an alumina-containing estimate formed during the production of aluminum on electrolyzers with self-baking anodes during technological operations. The material is a mixture of fine powder 2.5 mm in size (62.78% on average mass) with the presence of pieces of material ranging in size from 0.5 to 6 cm (average 20.26% by weight). The samples contain pieces of hardened aluminum with sizes from 5 to 20 mm (16.96%). The largest content in the sample has the fineness classes-0.315 + 0.16 mm in the volume of 29.85% and the largest class +2.5 mm-37.22%. B It was established that aluminum is concentrated in the fractions-0.315 + 0.16 mm (45.7%) and 0.16 + 0 mm (48.8%), silicon in the fraction-0.63 + 0.315 mm (1.91%), iron at-1.25 + 0.63 mm (0.601%) and-0.63 + 0.315 mm (0.62%). The material consists of cryolite (Na3AlF6), chiolite (Al3F14Na5), quartz, feldspar, carbonaceous matter and the technogenic phase of the composition (NaF) 1.5CaF2 AlF3. The material is characterized as non-abrasive (working index Ai - 0.0184) and very soft in relation to impact crushing (working index CWi - 3.64), the working index of ball grinding Bond (BWi - 6.47) characterizes a very low resistance to ball grinding. The implementation of the crushing operation of an alumina-containing estimate will allow the use of dry cascade-gravity and centrifugal classification to separate impurities in the form of SiO2, and Fe2O3 for the use of alumina-containing material in primary aluminum technology. On the basis of laboratory tests, it is established that alumina-containing raw materials can be separated and photometric and gravitational separation methods can be used. A mathematical model of the motion of particles of primary and prepared alumina-containing raw materials in a cascade-gravity classifier was developed. The criteria and factors characterizing the alumina-containing material, as well as influencing and determining the maximum material enrichment, are established.

The effect of microwave pretreatment on impact crushing of lead-zinc ore

The relationship between energy input and particle size of ore samples after crushing and effect of microwave pretreatment on impact crushing of lead-zinc ore were studied by drop weight impact test. The results showed that the lead-zinc ore became softer and had higher degree of crushing after microwave pretreatment. Compared with continuous microwave pretreatment, pulsed microwave pretreatment could improve the drop weight impact crushing efficiency of lead-zinc ore. When the specific comminution energy were 5 kW h/t, 10 kW h/t respectively, the crushing characteristic parameters t10 were 60.42% and 67.46% respectively by continuous microwave. But the values of t10 were increased to 68.64% and 75.88% respectively after pulsed microwave radiation under same microwave power and time. In addition, water quenching could more promote the impact crushing efficiency of lead-zinc ore after microwave irradiation.

Resource-energy-saving technologies and equipment for complex processing of man-made materials

Using the fundamental kinetic laws of materials grinding processes, a resource-energy-saving technology for complex processing and mechanoactivation of mineral components has been developed. For the technology, patent-protected energy-efficient grinding units for selective grinding of materials have been developed: press-roll grinders (PRG) for volume-shear deformation (VSD) of materials and obtaining their microdefect structure; drum ball mills (DBMs) with internal energy-exchanging devices (IEDs), which implement impact-crushing-abrading action with less 10–20 % grinding load. A technological complex was developed for mechanoactivation of fine-grained materials and obtain nanostructured composite mixtures from them: “PRG–VSD”– vibration-centrifugal unit (VCU) of selective grinding at each stage – vortex-acoustic dispersants (VADs) for obtaining ultrafine particles < 5 μm with mechanical-aerodynamic and acoustic grinding. Resource-energy-saving technology has been tested for complex thermomechanical processing of quartzite-iron-containing was teat the Lebedinsky mining and processing plant for production of pigments-fillers for the purpose of volumetric dyeing of products.