CA1065124A - Heavy pulps for the float-sink dressing of minerals - Google Patents
Heavy pulps for the float-sink dressing of mineralsInfo
- Publication number
- CA1065124A CA1065124A CA252,194A CA252194A CA1065124A CA 1065124 A CA1065124 A CA 1065124A CA 252194 A CA252194 A CA 252194A CA 1065124 A CA1065124 A CA 1065124A
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- heavy
- weight
- alloy
- pulp
- nickel
- 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
Links
Classifications
-
- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C22—METALLURGY; FERROUS OR NON-FERROUS ALLOYS; TREATMENT OF ALLOYS OR NON-FERROUS METALS
- C22C—ALLOYS
- C22C19/00—Alloys based on nickel or cobalt
- C22C19/002—Alloys based on nickel or cobalt with copper as the next major constituent
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B03—SEPARATION 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
- B03B—SEPARATING SOLID MATERIALS USING LIQUIDS OR USING PNEUMATIC TABLES OR JIGS
- B03B5/00—Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating
- B03B5/28—Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by sink-float separation
- B03B5/30—Washing granular, powdered or lumpy materials; Wet separating by sink-float separation using heavy liquids or suspensions
- B03B5/44—Application of particular media therefor
- B03B5/442—Application of particular media therefor composition of heavy media
Landscapes
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Metallurgy (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Manufacture Of Metal Powder And Suspensions Thereof (AREA)
Abstract
HEAVY PULPS FOR THE FLOAT-SINK DRESSING OF MINERALS
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
Heavy pulp for the float-sink dressing of minerals.
The heavy pulp consists substantially of water and has pulverulent smooth and spheroidal heavy medium alloy particles suspended therein. The heavy medium alloy consists more particularly of 60 up to 70 weight % of nickel, 25 up to 35 weight % of copper, 3 up to 8 weight % of sulfur, and impurities originating from alloy preparation.
ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE:
Heavy pulp for the float-sink dressing of minerals.
The heavy pulp consists substantially of water and has pulverulent smooth and spheroidal heavy medium alloy particles suspended therein. The heavy medium alloy consists more particularly of 60 up to 70 weight % of nickel, 25 up to 35 weight % of copper, 3 up to 8 weight % of sulfur, and impurities originating from alloy preparation.
Description
106S129~
Corrosion-resistant aqueous heavy pulps ~or use in the float-sink-dressing of minerals have already been described, e.g. in German Patents 1 218 165 and
Corrosion-resistant aqueous heavy pulps ~or use in the float-sink-dressing of minerals have already been described, e.g. in German Patents 1 218 165 and
2 222 657. The heavy media employed in these pulps comprise iron/silicon alloys which contain either chromium or phosphorus as further alloying constituents, and are preferably made by atomizing a melt. The standard requirements which heavy media suitable for use in heavy pulps have to meet have also been described, e.g. in ~erman Patent 2 222 657, and need not be repeated here.
We have now found that magnetic alloys which are ~ree from iron can also successfully be used as heavy media.
- The present invention provides more particularly a heavy pulp for the float-sink dressing of minerals, the heavy pulp consisting substantially of water having pulverulent, smooth and spheroidal alloy particles suspended therein as a heavy medium, being characterized .
in that the heavy medium alloy substantially consists of 60 up to 70 weight % of nickel, 25 up to 35 weight % of -copper, 3 up to 8 weight % of sulfur, and impurities originating from alloy preparation.
Preferred ~eatures of the present invention provide:
a) for the heavy medium alloy to have a pycnometer density of 7.70 up to 7.90 g/ml;
b) for the alloy to consist substantially of 64 up to 66 weight % of nickel, 29 up to 30 weight % o~
copper, 5 up-to 6.5 weight % of sulfur, and iron ' - 2 - ~
1065~Z4 and/or cobalt impurities originating from alloy preparation;
c) for the alloy particles to have a size of 0.001 up to 0.4 mm;
d) for the heavy pulp to have a density of 3.0 up to 4.0 g/ml; and e) for the alloy particles to have been ob-tained by atomizing a melt at temperatures of 1200 up to 1600C under pressures of 3 up to 10 bar by means 1~ of steam, water or air.
The sulfur-containing nickel/copper-alloy, which may optionally have Fe and Co ~mpurities therein, these being impurities originating from alloy preparation, can be made by various processes which do not form part of thè
present invention. In the production of nickel by smelting sulfidic ores, the above Ni/Cu/S-alloy is directly obtained in the form of an inexpensive melt, which need only be atomized for transformation into powder consisting of smooth and spheroidal, predominantly 20 spherical particles, which are very suitable for use as a commercially highly attractive heavy medium. It is also possible for the Ni/Cu/S-alloy to be made from the elements, optionally in admixture with a sulfide as a sulfur-carrier, in an electric furnace, e g. an induction furnace, graphite rod furnace or arc furnace.
The Ni/Cu/S-alloy was made in the manner described in the following Experiments 1 through 4.
Experiment 1:
50 kg of a sulfur-containing nickel/copper-alloy, which was obtained as an intermediary product in the preparation of nickel and copper, was placed in a graphite rod furnace and converted therein into a melt at temperatures of 1400C up to 1600C under protective gas, which was nitrogen, argon or helium. The alloy was composed of 64.7 weight ~ of nickel, 29.8 weight % of copper, and-5.3 weight % of æulfur, the balance being iron and cobalt. The alloy melt had the following composition, just prior to atomization: 64.8 weight %
of nickel, 29.8 weight % of copper, 5.2 weight % of sulfur, the balance being iron and cobalt.
- Experiment 2:
7.8 kg of nickel sulfide (63.9 weight % of nickel;
35.5 weight % of sulfur), 28.2 kg of nickel granules -~
(99 weight % of nickel) and 15 kg of copper (99.5 weight %
of copper) were placed in a mean frequency induction furnace, which was lined with refractory tamped corundum, and converted into a melt therein. The melt had the following composition, just prior to atomization: 64.8 weight ~ of nickelj 29.8 weight % of copper and 5.4 weight % of sulfur.
Experiment 3:
13-kg of copper mat (78 weight % of copper, 0.9 weight % of nickel, 20.5 weight % of sulfur), 5 kg of copper and 33 kg of nickel granules were placed in the induction furnace of experiment 2) and convertéd into a melt therein. The melt had the following composition, just prior to atomization: 64.2 weight % of nickel, 29.4 weight % of copper, and 6.2 weight % of sulfur.
Experiment 4:
Experiment 3 was repeated in a graphite rod furnace~
_ 4 _ .
The resulting melt had the following composition, just prior to atomization: 65.1 weight ~ of nickel, 29.5 weight % of copper, and 5.3 weight % of sulfur.
Atomization of Ni/Cu/S-alloys.
Each of the alloy melts of experiments 1) through ;
4) was poured into a pouring gate~ which was lined with refractory ceramic material and had a ceramic-lined outlet of a given diameter embedded in its bottom portion, and centrally delivered from the gate to an annular slit nozzle. The diameter of the outlet was found to critically determine the diameter of the metal stream issuing therefrom and also the size~of the resulting pulverulent particles, which were used as a heavy medium.
In order to make it possible for a substantially constant quantity of metal to be delivered per unit time to the nozzle, care was taken that the pouring gate was always filled up to 75 % its volume during the entire atomization period. To this end, the gate was supplied with the necessary quantity of molten material from the furnace.
The melt was atomized through the annular slit nozzle with the aid of steam, which was uniformly supplied to the nozzle through two conduits. The ~uantity of steam admit:ted to the nozzle and the steam pressure were regulated, if necessary also during atomization, by means of a valve. The atomized material was quenched in water and dried, and a powder consisting of smooth ~spheroidal particles was obtained, which had a composition the same as that of the melt just prior -to atomization.
T a b l e :
Melt from exp. 1 2 3 .
Diameter of outlet in mm 10 10 12 10 Steam pressure in bar 6.5 4.5 4.5 9.0 Particle size distribution in %
,.
~ 0.200 mm 3.0 5.2 9.4 0.160 mm ~ 11.0 13.9 23.7 3.4 --> 0.100 mm 25.0 34.6 4~.8 11,9 > 0.063 mm 45.0 59.8 76.0 30.7 ~ 0.063 mm 55.0 40.2 24.0 69.3 .. . ,. , .. ,, . ~ ''.
EXAMPLE:
The alloy powder obtained by atomizing the melt of e~periment 1 and characterized in the above Table had the following further utilitarian properties:
Pycnometer density (g/ml) 7.75 Apparent density (g/ml) 4.70 Vibration denslty (g/ml) 5.10 Magnetic fraction (wgt %) 98.1 Spherical particle fraction (wgt %) 65 The corrosiveness of the heavy medium was tested in 300 ml of an aqueous-acid actetate buffer solution at pH
4.62 at 80C. The aqueous heavy medium suspension had a density of 3.5 g/ml. The suspension was placed in a sheet iron container and stirred therein for 96 hours at 400 rpm. The quantity of gas, which was su~stantially hydrogen, evolved during that period of time was collected ... . ..
~ 0651Z4 and identified. It was 140 ml (0C; 1 atmosphere). After the end of the experiment, the pycnometer density was determined and found to be 7.71 g/ml. The minor quantity of gas evolved (140 ml H2/96 hours) and the very minor difference in density (7.75 - 7.71 = 0.04 g/ml) indicate that the heavy medium is highly corrosion-resistant. It is accordingly possible for it to be used in making a heavy pulp for use in the float-sink dressing of minerals.
Even if the pulp is prepared with acid mine water or sea water, it is not likely to undergo corrosion. The apparent density was identified in a Stormer type rotary viscometer at heavy pulp densities between 3 and 4 g/ml at 20C. The apparent density of commércially available atomized ferrosilicon containing 15 weight % of silicon and of comparable particle size distribution is given for -the purpose of comparison. As can be seen, the Ni/
Cu/S-alloy compares favorably therewith in respect of its viscosity behaviour.
Apparent density in cp Heavy pulpNi/Cu/S-alloy Ferrosilicon, atomized density (g/ml) containing 15 wgt % Si .
We have now found that magnetic alloys which are ~ree from iron can also successfully be used as heavy media.
- The present invention provides more particularly a heavy pulp for the float-sink dressing of minerals, the heavy pulp consisting substantially of water having pulverulent, smooth and spheroidal alloy particles suspended therein as a heavy medium, being characterized .
in that the heavy medium alloy substantially consists of 60 up to 70 weight % of nickel, 25 up to 35 weight % of -copper, 3 up to 8 weight % of sulfur, and impurities originating from alloy preparation.
Preferred ~eatures of the present invention provide:
a) for the heavy medium alloy to have a pycnometer density of 7.70 up to 7.90 g/ml;
b) for the alloy to consist substantially of 64 up to 66 weight % of nickel, 29 up to 30 weight % o~
copper, 5 up-to 6.5 weight % of sulfur, and iron ' - 2 - ~
1065~Z4 and/or cobalt impurities originating from alloy preparation;
c) for the alloy particles to have a size of 0.001 up to 0.4 mm;
d) for the heavy pulp to have a density of 3.0 up to 4.0 g/ml; and e) for the alloy particles to have been ob-tained by atomizing a melt at temperatures of 1200 up to 1600C under pressures of 3 up to 10 bar by means 1~ of steam, water or air.
The sulfur-containing nickel/copper-alloy, which may optionally have Fe and Co ~mpurities therein, these being impurities originating from alloy preparation, can be made by various processes which do not form part of thè
present invention. In the production of nickel by smelting sulfidic ores, the above Ni/Cu/S-alloy is directly obtained in the form of an inexpensive melt, which need only be atomized for transformation into powder consisting of smooth and spheroidal, predominantly 20 spherical particles, which are very suitable for use as a commercially highly attractive heavy medium. It is also possible for the Ni/Cu/S-alloy to be made from the elements, optionally in admixture with a sulfide as a sulfur-carrier, in an electric furnace, e g. an induction furnace, graphite rod furnace or arc furnace.
The Ni/Cu/S-alloy was made in the manner described in the following Experiments 1 through 4.
Experiment 1:
50 kg of a sulfur-containing nickel/copper-alloy, which was obtained as an intermediary product in the preparation of nickel and copper, was placed in a graphite rod furnace and converted therein into a melt at temperatures of 1400C up to 1600C under protective gas, which was nitrogen, argon or helium. The alloy was composed of 64.7 weight ~ of nickel, 29.8 weight % of copper, and-5.3 weight % of æulfur, the balance being iron and cobalt. The alloy melt had the following composition, just prior to atomization: 64.8 weight %
of nickel, 29.8 weight % of copper, 5.2 weight % of sulfur, the balance being iron and cobalt.
- Experiment 2:
7.8 kg of nickel sulfide (63.9 weight % of nickel;
35.5 weight % of sulfur), 28.2 kg of nickel granules -~
(99 weight % of nickel) and 15 kg of copper (99.5 weight %
of copper) were placed in a mean frequency induction furnace, which was lined with refractory tamped corundum, and converted into a melt therein. The melt had the following composition, just prior to atomization: 64.8 weight ~ of nickelj 29.8 weight % of copper and 5.4 weight % of sulfur.
Experiment 3:
13-kg of copper mat (78 weight % of copper, 0.9 weight % of nickel, 20.5 weight % of sulfur), 5 kg of copper and 33 kg of nickel granules were placed in the induction furnace of experiment 2) and convertéd into a melt therein. The melt had the following composition, just prior to atomization: 64.2 weight % of nickel, 29.4 weight % of copper, and 6.2 weight % of sulfur.
Experiment 4:
Experiment 3 was repeated in a graphite rod furnace~
_ 4 _ .
The resulting melt had the following composition, just prior to atomization: 65.1 weight ~ of nickel, 29.5 weight % of copper, and 5.3 weight % of sulfur.
Atomization of Ni/Cu/S-alloys.
Each of the alloy melts of experiments 1) through ;
4) was poured into a pouring gate~ which was lined with refractory ceramic material and had a ceramic-lined outlet of a given diameter embedded in its bottom portion, and centrally delivered from the gate to an annular slit nozzle. The diameter of the outlet was found to critically determine the diameter of the metal stream issuing therefrom and also the size~of the resulting pulverulent particles, which were used as a heavy medium.
In order to make it possible for a substantially constant quantity of metal to be delivered per unit time to the nozzle, care was taken that the pouring gate was always filled up to 75 % its volume during the entire atomization period. To this end, the gate was supplied with the necessary quantity of molten material from the furnace.
The melt was atomized through the annular slit nozzle with the aid of steam, which was uniformly supplied to the nozzle through two conduits. The ~uantity of steam admit:ted to the nozzle and the steam pressure were regulated, if necessary also during atomization, by means of a valve. The atomized material was quenched in water and dried, and a powder consisting of smooth ~spheroidal particles was obtained, which had a composition the same as that of the melt just prior -to atomization.
T a b l e :
Melt from exp. 1 2 3 .
Diameter of outlet in mm 10 10 12 10 Steam pressure in bar 6.5 4.5 4.5 9.0 Particle size distribution in %
,.
~ 0.200 mm 3.0 5.2 9.4 0.160 mm ~ 11.0 13.9 23.7 3.4 --> 0.100 mm 25.0 34.6 4~.8 11,9 > 0.063 mm 45.0 59.8 76.0 30.7 ~ 0.063 mm 55.0 40.2 24.0 69.3 .. . ,. , .. ,, . ~ ''.
EXAMPLE:
The alloy powder obtained by atomizing the melt of e~periment 1 and characterized in the above Table had the following further utilitarian properties:
Pycnometer density (g/ml) 7.75 Apparent density (g/ml) 4.70 Vibration denslty (g/ml) 5.10 Magnetic fraction (wgt %) 98.1 Spherical particle fraction (wgt %) 65 The corrosiveness of the heavy medium was tested in 300 ml of an aqueous-acid actetate buffer solution at pH
4.62 at 80C. The aqueous heavy medium suspension had a density of 3.5 g/ml. The suspension was placed in a sheet iron container and stirred therein for 96 hours at 400 rpm. The quantity of gas, which was su~stantially hydrogen, evolved during that period of time was collected ... . ..
~ 0651Z4 and identified. It was 140 ml (0C; 1 atmosphere). After the end of the experiment, the pycnometer density was determined and found to be 7.71 g/ml. The minor quantity of gas evolved (140 ml H2/96 hours) and the very minor difference in density (7.75 - 7.71 = 0.04 g/ml) indicate that the heavy medium is highly corrosion-resistant. It is accordingly possible for it to be used in making a heavy pulp for use in the float-sink dressing of minerals.
Even if the pulp is prepared with acid mine water or sea water, it is not likely to undergo corrosion. The apparent density was identified in a Stormer type rotary viscometer at heavy pulp densities between 3 and 4 g/ml at 20C. The apparent density of commércially available atomized ferrosilicon containing 15 weight % of silicon and of comparable particle size distribution is given for -the purpose of comparison. As can be seen, the Ni/
Cu/S-alloy compares favorably therewith in respect of its viscosity behaviour.
Apparent density in cp Heavy pulpNi/Cu/S-alloy Ferrosilicon, atomized density (g/ml) containing 15 wgt % Si .
3.0 18.5 21.0 3.2 20.7 22.5 3.4 23.7 25.0 3.6 27.7 30.8 3.8 34.7 40.0
4.0 45.5 52.3 The above data show that the Ni/Cu/S-alloy is a 10651;24 heavy medium suitable for use in making heavy pulps for the float-sink dressing of minerals. , ~`:
. ' ' ' ' ' ~: ' ,' ", , , ; ~' , " ' ' '
. ' ' ' ' ' ~: ' ,' ", , , ; ~' , " ' ' '
Claims (6)
THE CLAIMS:
1) A heavy pulp for the float-sink dressing of minerals, the heavy pulp consisting substantially of water having pulverulent smooth and spheroidal alloy particles suspended therein as a heavy medium, being characterized in that the heavy medium alloy substan-tially consists of 60 up to 70 weight % of nickel, 25 up to 35 weight % of copper, 3 up to 8 weight %
of sulfur, and impurities originating from alloy preparation.
of sulfur, and impurities originating from alloy preparation.
2) A heavy pulp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heavy medium alloy has a pycnometer density of 7.70 up to 7.90 g/ml.
3) A heavy pulp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alloy consists substantially of 64 up to 66 weight % of nickel, 29 up to 30 weight % of copper, 5 up to 6.5 weight % of sulfur, and iron and/or cobalt impurities originating from alloy preparation.
4) A heavy pulp as claimed in claim 1, wherein the alloy particles have a size of 0.001 up to 0.4 mm.
5) A heavy pulp as claimed in claim 1, characterized by a density of 3.0 up to 4.0 g/ml.
6) A heavy pulp as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the alloy particles have been obtained by atomizing a melt at temperatures of 1200 up to 1600°C, under pressures of 3 up to 10 bar by means of steam, water or air.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE2522135A DE2522135C2 (en) | 1975-05-17 | 1975-05-17 | Heavy turbidity for the sink-swim processing of minerals |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA1065124A true CA1065124A (en) | 1979-10-30 |
Family
ID=5946887
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA252,194A Expired CA1065124A (en) | 1975-05-17 | 1976-05-11 | Heavy pulps for the float-sink dressing of minerals |
Country Status (4)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA1065124A (en) |
| DE (1) | DE2522135C2 (en) |
| IT (1) | IT1061283B (en) |
| ZA (1) | ZA762877B (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| IT1139273B (en) * | 1981-10-22 | 1986-09-24 | Prominco Srl | PROCEDURE FOR DYNAMIC SEPARATION BY MEANS OF MIXTURES OF MATERIALS, SUCH AS MINERALS FOR EXAMPLE, WITH DIFFERENT SPECIFIC WEIGHT, AND PLANT TO IMPLEMENT IT |
-
1975
- 1975-05-17 DE DE2522135A patent/DE2522135C2/en not_active Expired
-
1976
- 1976-05-11 CA CA252,194A patent/CA1065124A/en not_active Expired
- 1976-05-13 ZA ZA762877A patent/ZA762877B/en unknown
- 1976-05-14 IT IT49481/76A patent/IT1061283B/en active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| DE2522135A1 (en) | 1976-11-25 |
| DE2522135C2 (en) | 1983-04-21 |
| ZA762877B (en) | 1977-04-27 |
| AU1404076A (en) | 1977-11-24 |
| IT1061283B (en) | 1983-02-28 |
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