The particle surface properties are essential for understanding froth flotation, particularly for the evaluation of various chemical or reagent effects.

Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) is used in the pharmaceutical industry for the evaluation of surface properties and has to the knowledge of the authors not been used for applications in mineral processing. This paper describes an evaluation of industrial ore samples using DVS.

Four samples (feed, CuPb concentrate, Cu concentrate and Pb concentrate) from each of the Cu – Pb flotation processes in the Boliden and Garpenberg concentrators, Sweden, were analyzed by DVS in order to investigate if this technique could be used to estimate differences in their hydrophilicity. The DVS measures the water uptake as a function of the relative humidity (%RH) at constant temperature.

For both series of four samples, it was found that the DVS-data are in precise agreement with the flotation theory on hydrophobicity (indicated by differences in water uptake). The feed material, without any collectors, adsorbed more water compared to the CuPb bulk concentrate, which in turn adsorbed more water than the Cu concentrate. The lead concentrate on the other hand, which had been depressed by dichromate and should be more hydrophilic, showed a higher adsorbance of water than that of the CuPb concentrate.

The repeated measurements of three sub samples from one of the ore samples gave a mean value and an estimated standard deviation of 0.13 ± 0.01%. This shows that the method gives highly reproducible results and that the differences between the samples had high significance. This also shows that the DVS method can serve as a useful complement to traditionally used contact angle or capillary absorption-based measurement methods, especially when screening for new flotation reagents on industrial ore samples.

The understanding of particle surface properties is essential for the study and evaluation of froth flotation phenomena, particularly in the investigation of various chemical or reagent effects. Dynamic Vapor Sorption (DVS) is a method used for the analysis of surface properties of powders for instance in the pharmaceutical industry. To the knowledge of the authors, it has however not been used before in applications related to mineral processing. The DVS technique involves measurement of the water uptake of a relatively small amount of sample as a function of the relative humidity (% RH) in a temperature-controlled environment. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the method and investigate how it can complement existing techniques for surface characterization in mineral processing. Four samples (feed, CuPb concentrate, Cu concentrate and Pb concentrate) from the Cu – Pb flotation process in the Garpenberg concentrator, Sweden, were analyzed by DVS and the traditional capillary absorption technique (Washburn capillary rise). This enabled comparison between the two methods and evaluation of their respective advantages and disadvantages. Both methods give the expected ranking of the hydrophobicity for CuPb concentrate, Cu concentrate and Pb concentrate, but a discrepancy was observed for the feed. Washburn gave a value for the contact angle which was in the same range as for the CuPb concentrate, whereas DVS gave a value for the moisture uptake which was much higher than for the CuPb concentrate. Thus, DVS ranks all samples correctly, but with an unexpectedly high value for the feed whereas Washburn gives good ranking for three samples out of four. Potential reasons for the discrepancies are discussed.

ObjectivesThe aim of WP4 “Innovative Processing” is to elaborate how innovations in mineral and metallurgical processing are generated or taken up in different EU Member States and on EU‐level and how this is either facilitated or inhibited by policies and legislation on national or European level. The purpose oft he deliverable 4.3 is to complement the findings of D4.1 and D4.2 by carrying out additional interviews with representatives from different stakeholder groups (academia, industry, NGO’s and policymakers). The topics and questions of the questionnaire addressed the respondents’ perception of national and EU‐ and EU MS level mineral policies, gaps and needs with respect to innovation in mineral‐ and metallurgical processing. Questions for the questionnaire focus on previously identified innovations in mineral processing, metallurgical processing and metal recycling. Based on the input both from previous deliverables and from findings through the additional interviews and innovation cases, an analysis of needs and gaps as well as a SWOT analysis has been conducted. Recommendations for future development of mineral and metallurgical processing sector were evaluated.

Main FindingsConclusions and recommendations for future policy development for innovation in mineral and metallurgical processing were developed based on a survey and a SWOT analysis.

• Most of the mineral policies are addressing the entire mineral value chain. Several statutory provisions are related to mineral and metallurgical processing. National mineral policies are not very much addressing the mineral and metallurgical processing, while recycling is dislocated from mining/mineral legislation.
• The sentiment amongst policy makers towards the raw materials industry has improved on EU level through a number of strategic policy initiatives (e.g. the Strategic Implementation Plan for Raw materials, the revised EU Industrial Policy Strategy, the Raw Materials Initiative).
• The use of raw materials from secondary sources has been identified as being an integral part of the life cycle of materials.
• Innovations in mineral and metallurgical processing are not supported at strategic and economic/investment level. The policy is neutral or inhibiting through long and uncertain permitting procedure, or is indifferent to innovation as to mineral and metallurgical processing.
• The European knowledge and skills base in mineral and metallurgical processing has diminished during the past 20 years.

Der Trend in der Entwicklung der Flotationstechnologie geht weiterhin in Richtung sehr großer Zellen. Ein Scale-up von Flotationszellen wird zumeist unter Beibehaltung ähnlicher geometrischer Proportionen vorgenommen, d. h. das Verhältnis von Durchmesser zu Höhe wird bei Vergrößerung des Volumens häufig konstant gehalten. Zudem werden bei dem Entwurf von Flotationsanlagen zumeist mehrere Zellen mit identischer Geometrie innerhalb einer Flotationsbank verwendet. Die Verwendung weniger Standardgrößen in einer Flotationsanlage vereinfacht einerseits Entwurf, Herstellung und Wartung der Flotationsapparate. Andererseits werden hierdurch Leistungsfähigkeit und Selektivität des Flotationsprozesses nicht notwendigerweise sichergestellt. Der Geometrieparameter, der bei gegebenem Zellenvolumen die Leistungsfähigkeit bestimmt, ist die Zellenhöhe. Sie hat Einfluss auf den hydrostatischen Druck und die Hydrodynamik der Trübe, die Wegstrecke, die Partikel-Blase-Agglomerate zurücklegen müssen, sowie die Homogenität der Durchmischung. Auch die Dicke der Schaumschicht hängt vom Durchmesser-Höhe-Verhältnis ab. Ziel der Forschungsarbeiten ist es, ein besseres Verständnis der Materialverteilung und der Suspensionseigenschaften innerhalb einer Flotationszelle zu erlangen und anhand dieser Informationen aufzuklären, wie Veränderungen der Zellengeometrie die Trennleistung beeinflussen können. Zu diesem Zweck wurden erste systematische Messungen und Analysen der räumlichen Verteilung der verschiedenen Phasen innerhalb einer 160 m³ Flotationszelle im Rahmen der industriellen Anreicherung eines armen Kupfererzes durchgeführt. Die Konzepte für die Probenahme an verschiedenen vertikalen und seitlichen Positionen der Flotationszelle werden vorgestellt. Die Ergebnisse der experimentellen Arbeiten geben einen Einblick in die räumliche Verteilung der Trübe innerhalb der Flotationszelle. Auf der Grundlage der gemessenen Phasenverteilung und Konzentrationen sowie der Partikeleigenschaften an verschiedenen Positionen innerhalb der Zelle werden Implikationen für einen optimierten Entwurf von Flotationszelle und -anlage diskutiert.

The dynamic behaviour of μm-scale ferromagnetic particles in suspension is of interest for various mineral beneficiation processes. It is, however, difficult to experimentally study such processes at the particle-level. In these instances it can be advantageous to resort to suitable particle simulation methods.Stokesian dynamics is a mesh-free numerical technique developed for suspensions of nm to mm size particles. The method inherently considers hydrodynamic interactions, but additional interaction models can be included depending on the system under investigation. We here present a Stokesian dynamics (SD) implementation, which allows for simulation of the motion of suspended magnetic particles in presence of an external magnetic field. The magnetic interaction model includes particle-field interactions as well as pairwise interactions between magnetised particles.Simulations are compared with experiments using a laboratory-scale flow cell. The method is shown to be realistic for studying ferromagnetic suspensions in mineral processing applications, and can be useful in understanding and predicting the efficiency of mineral separation processes.

In this work an ultrasound-based measurement method is used formonitoring suspension velocity and build-up of magnetic material inside awet Low-Intensity Magnetic Separator, a process used e.g. inbeneficiation of magnetite ores. Today the only available option is tomonitor material transport between unit operations; i.e. flow rate,solids concentration, and particle size distribution of suspension flowin pipes are measured online using standard equipment.An Acoustic Backscatter System is fitted to the tank of a separator, andused to monitor the internal flow. A method called Ultrasonic VelocityProfiling is used to capture internal velocity profiles. Simultaneously,the backscatter signal intensity is used to get indications about localsolids concentration of the flow, and build-up of magnetic material. Themethods are evaluated in realistic conditions, where the effect ofvarying factors relevant to machine performance is investigated. Theincluded factors are; the slurry feed rate, the slurry solidsconcentration, the magnet assembly angle, and the drum rotational speed.The presented method gives useful information about the internal materialflow inside the separator. The velocity measurements capture the,sometimes complex, internal flow patterns, for example the presence andvelocity of a recirculating flow in the dewatering zone. Additionally,keeping a balanced material loading in the concentrate dewatering zone isimportant to separator performance. Using the signal backscatterintensity it is possible to qualitatively monitor this material loading.Generally these direct measurements can aid in improvements to machinedesign, process optimization, and process control.

In the mining industry, ferromagnetic particles (e.g. magnetite) are concentrated using wet low-intensity magnetic separation (LIMS). The performance is to a large extent controlled by the internal flow conditions in the separator. In previous work, it was shown how an ultrasound pulse-echo setup can be used to simultaneously measure particle velocity profiles and local solids concentration variations in laboratory conditions. In this paper, a real-world case is demonstrated where the system is installed on one of the wet LIMS at the LKAB R&D facilities in Malmberget, Sweden. For the pilot scale experiments a setup with two ultrasound transducers, mounted at the bottom of the separator tank, is used. The design of experiments method is used to study the effects of the feed solids concentration, drum rotational speed, position of the concentrate weir, and the magnet assembly angle on the measured flow patterns. The results show that it is possible to detect changes in the flow velocity patterns and the local solids concentration, as the operational conditions of the separator are varied. Of the factors studied, the drum rotational speed has the strongest influence on the overall flow velocity in the dewatering zone. Also, the presence of a recirculating flow transporting gangue particles away from the concentrate is confirmed. The factor with the strongest influence on this recirculating flow is also the drum rotational speed, together with the magnet assembly angle. Using this method it is possible to make high quality measurements of internal flow velocity profiles. It is also possible to monitor material build-up on the separator drum, and e.g. detect overload of magnetic material. The insights gained, and the methods developed, have generated new possibilities to control, optimise, and develop the wet LIMS process.

Ultrasound based flow measurement methods have a large potential for the mining industry and its processing plants. Ultrasound travel through dense suspensions and is not affected by the magnetic fields sometimes present in this type of equipment.A cross-correlation based method is used for localized particle velocity measurements in one and two dimensions. Simultaneously, using the same data, information about local particle concentration is extracted from the power spectral density of the backscattered signal. Experiments are carried out both in simplified geometry and in full scale equipment in an iron ore pilot benefication plant.In the simple geometry it is possible to assess the precision of the methods by comparing the measurements to theory and numerical simulations. The results from the pilot plant experiments show that these methods can be applied to real world processes

Social acceptance has emerged as a topic of outmost importance for the mining and metals industry. Recently, Luleå University of Technology has been involved in a number of EU-projects aimed at addressing issues related to social acceptance, wider society awareness building and education, as well as exploring the relation between policymaking and mining industry innovations towards more sustainable production. In this respect, the FAME project (funded by the EU through Horizon 2020) has a strong focus on developing processes and technologies towards minimal impact on environment, while at the same time considering health and safety aspects and being socio-politically acceptable.   

This presentation reflects on social acceptance issues, with particular focus on the Nordic and European context. The relevance of good working conditions, community involvement and trust-building as well as consideration for the environment are mentioned as key factors for a successful mining project. The mining industry is constantly working on process and raw material efficiency, water and energy savings, safer and better residue handling as well as remediation and protective actions at end of life. This work needs, however, to be complemented with public information and knowledge sharing both on local and on wider society level.

It is concluded that continuous efforts are needed for promoting social acceptance of the mining industry. On the local level, it is the responsibility of industry to build trust with the surrounding community. On wider society level a combination of stakeholder dialogue meetings and education initiatives are needed in order to generate understanding of the role of the mining and metals industry in society, possibilities and constraints of the circular economy, and other issues related to raw materials. In this respect, multiplier organisations such as NGOs, industry branch organisations and academia play a key role for successful outreach.