Enhancement of energy efficiency in fine grinding of copper sulfide minerals using a pilot-scale stirred media mill - IsaMill

He, M., Morrison, Robert D. and Barns, K. (2010). Enhancement of energy efficiency in fine grinding of copper sulfide minerals using a pilot-scale stirred media mill - IsaMill. In: , XXV International Mineral Processing Congress - IMPC 2010 'Smarter processing for the future. International Mineral Processing Congress 2010, Brisbane, Qld, Australia, (791-799). 6-10 September, 2010.

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Author He, M.
Morrison, Robert D.
Barns, K.
Title of paper Enhancement of energy efficiency in fine grinding of copper sulfide minerals using a pilot-scale stirred media mill - IsaMill
Conference Paper Type Fully Published Paper
Conference name International Mineral Processing Congress 2010    (ERA 2010 Rank A)
Conference location Brisbane, Qld, Australia
Conference dates 6-10 September, 2010
Convener Ralph J. Holmes
Proceedings title XXV International Mineral Processing Congress - IMPC 2010 'Smarter processing for the future
Place published Carlton, VIC, Australia
Publisher Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy
Publication date 2010
Year available 2010
ISBN 9781921522284
Start page 791
End page 799
Total pages 9
Collection year 2011
Language eng
Abstract/Summary The mineral liberation size of run of mine ores has dramatically reduced over recent years. As a result, the demand for fine grinding which is the most energy-intensive form of grinding has markedly increased in the minerals industry. Furthermore, the fine grinding costs increase exponentially with decreasing product particle size. As a result of the increased energy requirement for fine grinding, it is desirable to optimise fine grinding processes such as stirred media milling (ie IsaMill) to enhance energy efficiency, throughput and the product fineness. In the present study, the influence of slurry rheology, grinding media type and grinding media-to-feed size ratio on energy efficiency in a pilotscale IsaMill was investigated under certain industrially relevant pulp processing conditions. It was shown that a critical rheological state existed, below which the energy required to achieve an 80 per cent passing (ie P80) 20 μm product size was unaffected by shear rheology (ie apparent viscosity and shear yield stress) whilst above which the grinding energy required increased dramatically with increasing shear rheology. Colorado River sand (3.35 mm) showed higher energy efficiency than MT1 ceramic media (2.5 mm) for a target P80 of 20 μm in the solids concentration range of 38 to 55 per cent by weight, but the former experienced more than four times the wear rate of the later. The high wear rate of the Colorado River sand may be due to its much lower hardness. For feeds with an 80 per cent passing (ie F80) 70 to 110 μm, 2.0 or 2.5 mm MT1 media appeared to be more energy efficient than 3.5 mm MT1 media whilst a media-to-feed size ratio of 41 to 53 is applicable for ~50 μm (ie F80) feeds for effi cient grinding.
Keyword Fine grinding
Stirred media mill
Copper sulfide mineral
Fine particle
Slurry rheology
ceramic media
Q-Index Code E1
Q-Index Status Confirmed Code
Institutional Status UQ

Document type: Conference Paper
Sub-type: Fully Published Paper
Collections: Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre Publications
Official 2011 Collection
 
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Created: Thu, 09 Dec 2010, 15:48:14 EST by Karen Holtham on behalf of Julius Kruttschnitt Mineral Research Centre