CA1053612A - Density and magnetic separations - Google Patents

Density and magnetic separations

Info

Publication number
CA1053612A
CA1053612A CA258,599A CA258599A CA1053612A CA 1053612 A CA1053612 A CA 1053612A CA 258599 A CA258599 A CA 258599A CA 1053612 A CA1053612 A CA 1053612A
Authority
CA
Canada
Prior art keywords
particles
dense medium
dense
fraction
separation
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired
Application number
CA258,599A
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
David W. Horsfall
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd
Original Assignee
Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd filed Critical Anglo American Corp of South Africa Ltd
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of CA1053612A publication Critical patent/CA1053612A/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03CMAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03C5/00Separating dispersed particles from liquids by electrostatic effect
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03BSEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B5/00Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating
    • B03B5/28Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by sink-float separation
    • B03B5/30Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by sink-float separation using heavy liquids or suspensions
    • B03B5/32Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by sink-float separation using heavy liquids or suspensions using centrifugal force
    • B03B5/34Applications of hydrocyclones
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03BSEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B5/00Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating
    • B03B5/28Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by sink-float separation
    • B03B5/30Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by sink-float separation using heavy liquids or suspensions
    • B03B5/44Application of particular media therefor
    • B03B5/447Application of particular media therefor recovery of heavy media
    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B03SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS; MAGNETIC OR ELECTROSTATIC SEPARATION OF SOLID MATERIALS FROM SOLID MATERIALS OR FLUIDS; SEPARATION BY HIGH-VOLTAGE ELECTRIC FIELDS
    • B03BSEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
    • B03B9/00General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets
    • B03B9/005General arrangement of separating plant, e.g. flow sheets specially adapted for coal

Landscapes

  • Separation Of Solids By Using Liquids Or Pneumatic Power (AREA)

Abstract

ABSTRACT OF DISCLOSURE

A method for recovering magnetic dense medium particles from a suspension containing these particles and other less dense particles includes the steps of subjecting the suspension to at least a single stage high relative density separation to form a first fraction containing substantially only dense medium particles and a second fraction containing the bulk of the other particles and some dense medium particles, and subjecting the second fraction to a magnetic separation for recovery of the remaining dense medium particles. Each stage of the high relative density separation is effected in a cyclone. The suspension may be the overflow or the underflow from a dense medium process for the beneficiation of coal fines.

Description

THIS invention relates to dense medium separation wherein magnetic particles are used to form the dense medium.

- Dense medium separation is a well known technique -for separating particulate solids of different densities in a mixture. The dense medium is a suspension of dense particles in a liquid. The mixture of particles for separation is mixed with the suspension, and the different particles allowed to sink or float. The operation may for example be effected in a cyclone.
When coarse particles are involved there is little problem in separating the particles in the underflow and overflow from the dense medium by simple screening.

When dense medium separation is used for particles over 1000~, the greater part of the medium may be recovered for immediate re-use by screening alone. The magnetite particles adhering to the washed products may be rinsed - off and the diluted magnetite suspension so created cleaned and concentrated in magnetic separators.
. .
, When attempting to wash particulate material nominally less than 1000~, efficient separation of the cleaned particles from the medium is not so readily effected by simple screening. Moreover, because of the large surface area of the cleaned particles, adherence of magnetite is a severe problem. Consequently, in ~` 25 washin~ plants attempting to clean -1000~ particles, 1 it has been proposed that the entire separation of the ,` cleaned products from the medium be carried out by magnetic separation.

I For acceptable recovery of the dense medium however ¦ 30 large separation areas and cons;derable dilution of ~ the suspensions is required. This is a costly step.
.

., .. . . , ~ . . . . . .

;. . . . . . - - ~ . .

.. ' ` .' ~ . -. ''. ' .. :., . ' .. ;. . : .

lQ53~;1Z

According to the present invention there is provided a process wherein a particulate material is separated by means of a dense medium suspension made up of magnetic particles into high and low density fractions and the dense medium is recovered from the fractions by screening and washing to yield a first product recovered from the high density fraction and a second product recovered from the low density fraction, with the improvement that at least one of the products is subjected to a hydrocyclone separation to yield a dense fraction containing substantially only dense medium particles and a light fraction containing substantially all of the other particles and some dense medium particles and recovering the dense medium particles from the light fraction by means of a magnetic separation, the dense fraction and the recovered dense medium particles being utilized to make up the dense medium suspension.
According to the present invention there is also provided a process wherein raw coal fines is separated by means of a dense medium suspension made up of magnetic particles into high and low density fractions, and the dense medium is recovered from the fractions by screening and washing to yield a first product recovered from the high density fraction and a second product recovered from the low density fraction, with the improvement that at least one of the products is subjected to a hydrocyclone separation to yield a dense fraction containing substantially only dense medium particles and a light fraction containing substantially all of the coal derived particles and some dense medium particles and eecovering the dense medium particles from the light fraction by means of a magnetic separation, the dense fraction and the reoovered dense medium particles being utilized to make up the dense medium suspension.
~ The density separation may be effected in one, two or even more b~ stages.
- In the case of more than one stage, the feed to each subsequent stage is preferably dewatered.

1$ 3 : . ~ , - . . , :

lV53ti1Z
Each stage of the high relative density separation may be effected in a cyclone.
According to this embodiment a wide angle cyclone, i.e. a cyclone the cone angle of which is in the range 60 to 180 is preferred.
The method of the invention may be used in the separation of fine coal particles from a dense medium wherein the dense particles are magnetite.
For example, it may be used to treat the overflow from a dense medium process for the beneficiation of coal fines.
In this case the method may also be used to treat the underflow, 10 i.c. to separate thc s~gnotite particles frols the discard particles.

.1 . .

Z

~ - 3a _ ., !
- : . : , , 1053f~12 The invention is discussed further with reference to the attache~ flow sheet of a plant intended to beneficiate coal fines.

Referring to the flow sheet, raw coal fines for S beneficiation are mixed with an aqueous suspension of magnetite in a tank 2. The mixture is fed to a cyclone 4 for a conventional dense medium beneficiation of the coal fines. The underflow from the cyclone 4 comprises a suspension of discard and magnetite particles, and the overflow a mixture of washed coal fines and magnetite particles. Both the underflow and overflow are subjected to further similar treatment for separation of the magnetite particles from the other less dense particles (coal or discard) present therein as follows:

The underflow from the cyclone 4 is fed to a screening ' stage 6 for removal of any coarse discard fractions ,~ (i.e. exceeding a predetermined size,say 1000~). The j overflow from the screening stage 6 comprising the coarse discard fraction is led away, and the underflow is fed to a first cyclone 8.1. The overflow from the cyclone 8.1 is fed to a dewatering stage 10 and then to ~ a second cyclGne 8.2. The screening stage 6 includes i a rinsing portion 6.1 which is fed with water from the I 25 dewatering stage 10. The underflow from the rinsing ¦ portion 6.1 is added to the overflow from the cyclone ~ 8.1 before ;t enters the dewatering stage 10. The under-¦ flow from each cyclone 8.1,8.2 is adjusted to form a i first fraction containing essentially only magnetite particles. This fraction is recycled to the tank 2 via an overdense tank 14 and load box 16. The overflow ~ from the second cyclone 8.2 forms a second fraction ¦ containing the bulk of the discard particles and some I _ 4 ;.. -- , .. .. . . ..... . .
.; . .. . .. . . . .

:' . ', : . . : : : :

1053~;12 dence medium particles. This second fraction is fed to a magnetic separator 12 for recovery of the remaining magnetite particles. The magretite recovered is recycled from the magnetic separator 12 to the tank 2 via the overdense tank 14 and load box 16. The fine discard is led away.

The overflow from the cyclone 4 is ~reated similarly.
It is fed to a screening stage 18 for removal of any coarse coal fractions (i.e. exceeding a predetermined size, say 1000~). The overflow from the screening stage 18 comprising the coarse coal fractions is led away, and the underflow is fed to a first cyclone 20.1. The overflow from this cyclone 20.1 is fed to a dewatering stage 22 and then to a second cyclone 20.2. The screening stage 18 includes a rinsing portion 18.1 which is fed with water from the dewatering stage 22. The underflow from the rin~ing portion 18.1 is added to the overflow from the cyclone 20.1 before it enters the dewatering stage 22. The underflows from the cyclones 20.1 and 20.2 containing substantially magnetite particles ~, only, are recycled to the tank 2 via the overdense tank14 and load box 16. The overflow from the cyclone 20.2 contains the bulk of the coal particles and some l magnetite particles. It is fed to a magnetic separator ¦ 25 12 for recovery of the magnetite particles. The 3 recovered magnetite is recycled to the tank 2 via the overdense tank 14 and load box 16, and the cleaned coal fines are led away.
.~ . .
The cyclones 8.1, 8.2, 20.1 and 20.2 are all wide angle cyclones, i.e. having a cone angle in the range 60-, 180.

`3i :- . , . ,.... - , . . , , ~ ...

, . , . -, . . . , .... : .: , , . .- .. .
: ' ~ ~ ,' , ` ,, 1053~12 The magnetite particles used for forming the dense medium are of conventional size for such processes, not exceeding 100 microns.

The coal fines to which the process is particularly applicable are those having a particle size not exceeding of the order of 1000 microns, in particular those in which the majority have a particle size less than 300 microns. Particles of this-order of size being recalcitrant to separation techniques such as froth flotation, require dense medium separation, and accordingly : magnetic separation of the magnetite particles from the coal and discard particles in the overflow and underflow respectively.
... .
In a number of tests a substantially pure underflow (i.e. containing little contaminating coal) was obtained - when aqueous suspensions of coal particles and magnetite particles of the order of the above sizes were fed to cyclones having cone angles of 160 and 180.

Preceding magnetic separation treatment of the underflow and overflow from the dense medium beneficiation with high specific gravity separations has the advantage that the loads on the magnetic separators are significantly reduced. Thus smaller capacity, and accordingly less expensive, magnetic separators may be used.

., .

~, .
.

.

' '. ~ .'' ', - . ~ .
.
. - . . - .:

Claims (7)

THE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION IN WHICH AN EXCLUSIVE
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A process wherein a particulate material is separated by means of a dense medium suspension made up of magnetic particles into high and low density fractions and the dense medium is recovered from the fractions by screening and washing to yield a first product recovered from the high density fraction and a second product recovered from the low density fraction, with the improvement that at least one of the products is subjected to a hydrocyclone separation to yield a dense fraction containing substantially only dense medium particles and a light fraction containing substantially all of the other particles and some dense medium particles and recovering the dense medium particles from the light fraction by means of a magnetic separation, the dense fraction and the recovered dense medium particles being utilized to make up the dense medium suspension.
2. A process wherein raw coal fines is separated by means of a dense medium suspension made up of magnetic particles into high and low density fractions, and the dense medium is recovered from the fractions by screening and washing to yield a first product recovered from the high density fraction and a second product recovered from the low density fraction, with the improvement that at least one of the products is subjected to a hydrocyclone separation to yield a dense fraction containing substantially only dense medium particles and a light fraction containing substantially all of the coal derived particles and some dense medium particles and recovering the dense medium particles from the light fraction by means of a magnetic separation, the dense fraction and the recovered dense medium particles being utilized to make up the dense medium suspension.
3. A process according to claim 1 in which the hydrocyclone separation is a two stage one.
4. A process according to claim 3 in which the underflow from the first stage is dewatered before being fed to the second stage.
5. A process according to claim 1 in which the hydrocyclone has a cone angle in the range 60 degrees to 180 degrees.
6. A process according to claim 1 in which both products are separately subjected to a hydrocyclone separation to yield a dense and a light fraction.
7. In a process wherein a particulate material is separated into high and low density fractions by means of a dense medium suspension made up of magnetic particles and the dense medium is recovered from the high and low density fractions by screening and washing to yield a first product recovered from the high density fraction and a second product recovered from the low density fraction the improvement wherein at least one of said first or said second product is subjected to further separation to recover substantially all of the magnetic particles in said dense medium made up of magnetic particles comprising:
subjecting said at least one product to a hydrocyclone separation to yield a dense fraction substantially comprising a dense medium suspension made up of magnetic particles and a light fraction comprising a dense medium suspension made up of magnetic particles and particulate material fine enough to pass through said screen and subjecting said light fraction to magnetic separation whereby said dense medium suspension made up of magnetic particles is separated from said particulate material and retained.
CA258,599A 1975-08-08 1976-08-06 Density and magnetic separations Expired CA1053612A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
ZA755123A ZA755123B (en) 1975-08-08 1975-08-08 Dense medium separation

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
CA1053612A true CA1053612A (en) 1979-05-01

Family

ID=25569330

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
CA258,599A Expired CA1053612A (en) 1975-08-08 1976-08-06 Density and magnetic separations

Country Status (8)

Country Link
AU (1) AU500131B2 (en)
BR (1) BR7605203A (en)
CA (1) CA1053612A (en)
DE (1) DE2635161C2 (en)
GB (1) GB1541265A (en)
IN (1) IN145504B (en)
ZA (1) ZA755123B (en)
ZM (1) ZM10376A1 (en)

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE826891C (en) * 1949-08-04 1952-01-07 Stamicarbon Process for separating mixtures
DE1030785B (en) * 1955-06-04 1958-05-29 Stamicarbon Method and device for separating solid mixtures according to weight with the aid of a separating vessel
DE1215615B (en) * 1957-09-19 1966-05-05 Mineral Proc Corp Process for sorting a non-magnetic, weight-differentiated solid mixture
DE1224935B (en) * 1964-12-09 1966-09-15 Stolberger Zink Ag Process and system for the processing of lead-containing batteries

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
AU1672976A (en) 1978-02-16
BR7605203A (en) 1977-08-09
GB1541265A (en) 1979-02-28
IN145504B (en) 1978-10-28
ZA755123B (en) 1977-03-30
AU500131B2 (en) 1979-05-10
ZM10376A1 (en) 1977-08-22
DE2635161C2 (en) 1984-10-31
DE2635161A1 (en) 1977-02-24

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US4140628A (en) Dense medium separation
US4802976A (en) Method for recovering fine clean coal
US2932395A (en) Process of separating mixtures of particles
US3908912A (en) Coal beneficiating process
US2701641A (en) Method for cleaning coal
GB1526591A (en) Process for recovering usable materials from waste material containing metals and non-metals
US3572500A (en) Beneficiation of diatomaceous earth
CN103639077A (en) Middings magnetic separator tailings classifying separation recovery system and middings magnetic separatortailings classifying separation recovery technology for dense medium coal preparation plant
CA1118723A (en) Heavy magnetic media hydrocyclonic separation process with screening, magnetic separation and recycling of liquids
US3794162A (en) Heavy medium beneficiating process
CN110523524A (en) A kind of full grade of anthracite is selected to simplify sorting process
US2690261A (en) Concentration of minerals
US2781906A (en) Process and apparatus for the separation of mixtures of solid particles
CN109701730A (en) A kind of efficient coal cleaning process increased operation rate
US3638791A (en) Method for treatment of heavy media
CN109201315A (en) A kind of coal cleaning process increased operation rate
US2849113A (en) Methods of and means for handling flotation middlings in ore concentration processes
US4169786A (en) Dense medium separation
CA1053612A (en) Density and magnetic separations
US5051165A (en) Quality of heavy mineral concentrates
US3485356A (en) Method for the treatment of ores containing slime-forming impurities
US3023893A (en) Process for separating particles of solid x
US2418621A (en) Wheat starch process
US2860782A (en) Process for separating a mixture of solid particles
CA2418020C (en) Steel slag processing jig system