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Water within Minerals Processing, Volume II
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Water within Minerals Processing, Volume II

A special issue of Minerals (ISSN 2075-163X). This special issue belongs to the section "Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (24 November 2023) | Viewed by 10045

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Kirsten Claire Corin

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Minerals Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
Interests: water within flotation; flotation chemistry; flotation reagents; electrochemistry of flotation; grinding chemistry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Malibongwe Manono

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Centre for Minerals Research, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7700, South Africa
Interests: water within flotation; flotation reagents; dewatering of flotation products; industrial effluent treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Water within minerals processing is currently a highly topical issue. With so many mining operations being located in water-scarce regions as well as worldwide water shortages, tighter environmental restrictions, and developing corporate sustainability strategies, it is essential that mineral-processing operations become cognizant of their water usage and the options for reducing, reusing, and recycling their onsite water where necessary and possible. Although mining generally uses far less water overall than agriculture, it is the processing of minerals that generates water of an inferior quality that either ends up in tailings dams or requires treatment before it can be discharged to the environment. Water makes up the majority of the flotation pulp, with its primary role being that of a transport medium, while more recently it has been considered a reagent in its own right, and it is here that the reuse and recycling of water may be most appropriate. However, owing to the sensitivity of the flotation system to changes in pulp chemistry, the impact of changing water chemistry and therefore water quality needs to be understood. This Special Issue considers the impact that changes in water chemistry will have on the mineral concentration process; a special focus will be given to research that considers flotation as the primary process, while related processes and fit for purpose water treatment will also be considered.

Dr. Kirsten Claire Corin
Dr. Malibongwe Manono
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Minerals is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • water quality
  • pulp chemistry
  • electrolytes
  • microbial activity
  • physicochemical interactions

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

15 pages, 3079 KiB  
Article
Tailings Filtration: Water Jet Spray Cleaning of a Blinded Iron Ore Filter Cloth
by Bernd Fränkle, Maximilian Stockert, Thien Sok, Marco Gleiß and Hermann Nirschl
Minerals 2023, 13(3), 416; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030416 - 15 Mar 2023
Viewed by 1362
Abstract
The global growth in demand for raw materials is leading to a continuous increase in the mining of ores and thus to an expanding volume of tailings to be stored. To ensure safer storage and an optimized recovery of process water, the tailings [...] Read more.
The global growth in demand for raw materials is leading to a continuous increase in the mining of ores and thus to an expanding volume of tailings to be stored. To ensure safer storage and an optimized recovery of process water, the tailings slurry is often thickened followed by filtration in filter presses and dry stacking. However, an increasing blinding effect during the time of operation requires cleaning or replacement of the filter media. Cloth washing using spray nozzles is a possible solution, but there is insufficient quantitative data published on the performance. For this reason, this article examines the cleaning of an iron ore cloth from tailings filtration by continuous water spraying. Water flux, spray time and direction (front- and back-wash) variation were investigated by evaluating cleaning performance using flow resistance measurement and comparison to the unused and industrially used state where blinding has occurred. Sufficient cleaning and achieving the flow rate of the unused cloth is possible. However, excessive spray cleaning should be avoided, as damage to the fibers may occur. Spray cleaning can be stated to be economically reasonable since a water demand of 2.5 m3 m−2 and an energy consumption of 6.5 kWh m−2 is necessary for a sufficient regeneration. Furthermore, the spray cleaning is assumed to cost USD 6 m−2, which is approximately similar to replacing the fabric but reduces plastic waste. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water within Minerals Processing, Volume II)
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14 pages, 3374 KiB  
Article
Improving Nickel Recovery in Froth Flotation by Purifying Concentrators Process Water Using Dissolved Air Flotation
by Annukka Aaltonen, Thi Minh Khanh Le, Eija Saari, Olli Dahl, Benjamin Musuku, Aleksandra Lang, Sakari Hiidenheimo and Richard Dixon
Minerals 2023, 13(3), 319; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13030319 - 24 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1857
Abstract
The pressure for saving water by closing the water loops in mineral processing is increasing continuously. The drivers for higher recirculating rates include water scarcity in dry areas, environmental legislation that is becoming stricter in most countries, limitations set for wet tailings management [...] Read more.
The pressure for saving water by closing the water loops in mineral processing is increasing continuously. The drivers for higher recirculating rates include water scarcity in dry areas, environmental legislation that is becoming stricter in most countries, limitations set for wet tailings management and the increased demands for social licenses to operate. At the same time, to make mineral processing sustainable, the recovery of valuable minerals should be maximized. This leads for a need to close the process water circulation. To see the effect of closed water circulation on metallurgical performance, flotation tests were carried out with nickel concentrate thickener overflow water before and after the process of water purification by dissolved air flotation (DAF). Both total nickel recovery and concentrate grade in laboratory scale flotation tests to the Ni rougher-scavenger concentrate increased after DAF treatment. Chemical and mineralogical characterizations revealed that after DAF treatment, the process water contained fewer metal hydroxides and less fine-grained silicate mineral particles, which is most likely the reason for the improvement in the nickel flotation performance. Based on the feasibility study, improved nickel recovery by DAF treatment of process water can bring economic benefits at a concentrator plant. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water within Minerals Processing, Volume II)
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19 pages, 3383 KiB  
Article
Influence of Water Quality on Sulphide Ore Oxidation and Speciation of Sulphur Anions during Autogenous Milling
by Benjamin Musuku, Diana Kasymova, Eija Saari and Olli Dahl
Minerals 2023, 13(2), 277; https://doi.org/10.3390/min13020277 - 16 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1383
Abstract
Earlier studies at the Kevitsa Cu-Ni concentrator plant have indicated that seasonal variations of the properties of the process water affect the oxidation of the surface of the minerals, and further, the pentlandite flotation performance. However, it is not clear whether the differences [...] Read more.
Earlier studies at the Kevitsa Cu-Ni concentrator plant have indicated that seasonal variations of the properties of the process water affect the oxidation of the surface of the minerals, and further, the pentlandite flotation performance. However, it is not clear whether the differences in flotation performance are solely due to changes in the mineral surface oxidation, and/or also due to surface oxidation-induced changes in the aqueous phase of the pulp. This paper investigates the effects of the mineral surface oxidation of Kevitsa Cu-Ni ore on the properties of the aqueous phase of the slurry. A systematic study was formulated to monitor the surface oxidation related changes in the mill circuit of the Kevitsa concentrator plant. The study was timed to coincide with a seasonally observed drop in the concentrator plant’s flotation performance, which happens during the summer months (June, July, and August). Both physicochemical parameters, as well as sulphur oxyanions in the plant process water, mill discharge, and hydrocyclone overflows were monitored. Also, the bubble size in selected rougher and cleaner cells was monitored. The results show that season-related changes in mineral surface oxidation cause clear differences in the aqueous phase chemistry of the mill circuit. The increased concentration of reduced sulphur species in the mill discharge is an indication of extensive oxidation of the ore during milling. Also, the bubble size of the flotation cells reacts to the observed seasonal change. The findings of the study confirm that the consequences expected, based on the theory of mineral surface oxidation, are observable downstream in the aqueous phase of the milling circuit. Based on these results, it is not yet possible to say whether the poor flotation performance is caused solely by the oxidation of the mineral surface or also by the properties of the aqueous phase of the slurry after milling. However, the results show that the plant needs both to find ways to limit oxidation rates in the summer, and to consider installing a more robust frother, capable of maintaining efficacy during the warm season. The findings of this study may help the plant to develop ways to enable a timely response to changes in the recycled process water quality, to prevent harmful impacts on pentlandite flotation. The former could be achieved by lowering the temperature of the process water and flotation air, whereas the latter could mean using a different frother. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water within Minerals Processing, Volume II)
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18 pages, 4836 KiB  
Article
Impact of Recycled Process Water on Electrochemical Reactivity of Sulphide Ore
by Benjamin Musuku and Olli Dahl
Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1455; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111455 - 18 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1312
Abstract
The Kevitsa Cu–Ni sequential flotation process is characterised by poor nickel recovery during summer periods (May–September). Evidently, the process water matrix in summer is different from that in other seasons; however, the Cu flotation performance is scarcely affected by the changes in the [...] Read more.
The Kevitsa Cu–Ni sequential flotation process is characterised by poor nickel recovery during summer periods (May–September). Evidently, the process water matrix in summer is different from that in other seasons; however, the Cu flotation performance is scarcely affected by the changes in the water matrix across the seasons. Increasingly different process water quality was generated through a grinding-and-dissolution protocol and its impact on the electrochemical reactivity of sulphide ore was studied. The main objective of this approach was to mimic the increasingly different quality of plant process water emanating from a closed-process water loop. Dissolved oxygen demand tests were conducted on the Kevitsa ore using water of varying quality from dissolution loops. The effect of the temperature and fine grind on the oxidation rates was also investigated. The study was coupled with EDTA metal ion extraction and xanthate adsorption tests. These showed that the number of dissolution loops, which has an impact on water quality, has a direct impact on the rate of oxidation of the ore. A fine grind and high temperature both increase the oxidation rates of the ore. The Kevitsa ore is most reactive in the first 10–20 min after milling. Furthermore, oxidation rates are also driven by the amount of pyrrhotite in the ore, with chalcopyrite being the least reactive, as indicated by the EDTA data. Xanthate adsorption is impacted by the water quality and fine grind. The combined effect of water quality, temperature and fine grind is expected to influence the flotation behaviour of sulphide minerals. The poor nickel recovery of the Kevitsa ore during the summer period is attributable to the unfavourable process water quality, which accelerates the oxidation of the ore during the summer period. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water within Minerals Processing, Volume II)
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17 pages, 2088 KiB  
Article
Oxidative Dissolution of Low-Grade Ni-Cu Ore and Impact on Flotation of Pentlandite
by Benjamin Musuku, Eija Saari and Olli Dahl
Minerals 2022, 12(11), 1406; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12111406 - 03 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1667
Abstract
This paper investigated the effect of mineral surface oxidation on the floatability of Kevitsa low-grade Ni-Cu ore. Physicochemical measurements, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) extraction, and oxygen uptake experiments were carried out with slurry and recycled process water samples obtained from the [...] Read more.
This paper investigated the effect of mineral surface oxidation on the floatability of Kevitsa low-grade Ni-Cu ore. Physicochemical measurements, ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid (EDTA) extraction, and oxygen uptake experiments were carried out with slurry and recycled process water samples obtained from the Kevitsa Cu-Ni sequential concentrator plant. The pH of recycled process water, copper flotation feed, and nickel flotation feed dropped by 0.7, 0.4, and 0.7 points, respectively, from May to July. The oxygen demand increased from recycled process water to the copper flotation feed, then dropped for the nickel flotation feed. The nickel flotation feed Redox potential (ORP) was lowest for July, while EDTA extractable metals increased from May to July. There was a 20% drop in nickel recoveries from May to July. Based on ORP measurements of the nickel flotation feed, good nickel flotation takes place in a moderately oxidizing (75–170 mV) and alkaline (9.2–9.7 pH) environment. Therefore, the ORP/pH of the nickel flotation feed is important to the nickel flotation. The results showed that at the Kevitsa plant, the grinding process is an electrochemically active environment, which, together with the incoming recycled process water quality, defines the degree of mineral surface oxidation for flotation. The increasing corrosiveness of the recycled process water increased mineral surface oxidation and depressed pentlandite flotation. Laboratory flotation experiments confirmed the observed poor plant flotation response when the corrosiveness of recycled process water increased. Total dissolved solids (TDS) was proven to be a reliable online parameter for the corrosiveness of the recycled process water and was inversely proportional to the pentlandite recovery. The findings of this study may help the plant develop ways to enable a timely response to changes in recycled process water quality to prevent harmful impacts on pentlandite flotation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water within Minerals Processing, Volume II)
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12 pages, 701 KiB  
Article
The Use of Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) in the Flotation of a Platinum-Group-Minerals-Bearing Merensky Ore
by Jestos Taguta, Zandile Peku, Nthapo Sehlotho and Kirsten Corin
Minerals 2022, 12(10), 1259; https://doi.org/10.3390/min12101259 - 05 Oct 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1441
Abstract
Water scarcity is compelling mining houses to not only recycle process water but to also identify alternative sources of make-up water in concentrators. South Africa has significant volumes of acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from vast mining operations. This study investigated the viability [...] Read more.
Water scarcity is compelling mining houses to not only recycle process water but to also identify alternative sources of make-up water in concentrators. South Africa has significant volumes of acid mine drainage (AMD) generated from vast mining operations. This study investigated the viability of using AMD as a replacement for potable water in the flotation of a platinum-group-minerals (PGM)-bearing Merensky ore. Rougher and cleaner flotation testwork was conducted at laboratory scale to compare the performances of potable water (baseline water), AMD treated with Ca(OH)2, and AMD treated with the Veolia process. Water analysis showed that the three water types differed in pH, water hardness, conductivity, and total dissolved solids. The results showed the AMD treated with Ca(OH)2 was detrimental to PGM recovery compared to potable water at depressant dosages of 50 g/t. Specifically, AMD treated with Ca(OH)2 achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 67.8%, while potable water achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 88.4%. Depressant dosage optimisation and treatment of the AMD using the Veolia process were investigated as potential strategies to mitigate the detrimental effects of the AMD treated with Ca(OH)2 on the flotation performance of a Merensky ore. The AMD treated with the Veolia process achieved a PGM rougher recovery of 70.8%. Thus, treatment of the AMD was beneficial, though the PGM and base metal sulphides (BMS) recoveries were still lower than those achieved in potable water. Reducing the depressant dosage to 25 g/t in AMD treated with Ca(OH)2 resulted in the highest PGM, Cu, and Ni rougher recoveries of 91%, 60.2%, and 58%, respectively. The AMD treated with Ca(OH)2 at lower depressant dosage outperformed the potable water in terms of PGM and BMS recoveries and concentrate grades, indicating that AMD has the potential to replace potable water as make-up water in Merensky ore processing plants. The results showed that depressant optimisation is important to achieve superior metallurgical results when using AMD treated with Ca(OH)2. The use of AMD in Merensky ore processing plants not only conserves freshwater in minerals processing plants but also reduces high volumes of contaminated effluents. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Water within Minerals Processing, Volume II)
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