Grinding Aids
The general use of chemical grinding aids involving several different mechanisms for increasing throughput in the wet grinding of ores has been discussed in a number of recent publications. It appears from industrial scale testing that the use of selective dispersants with certain prespecified operating conditions is an approach which can produce two important results: […]
Increase Plant Throughput by Mill Expansion
Shortly after start-up, it was apparent that it would be difficult to obtain the plant design throughput. The ore sample that had been used for grinding test work was found to be much softer than that of the orebody in depth. This had led the designers to design without a crushing stage and to designate […]
Flux Lime
All forms of “lime” are used in the steel plant. Calcium hydroxide is used for water treatment, acid neutralizing, and as a lubricant for wire drawing. All the other limes are used as fluxes in the sintering plant, blast furnace or steel producing furnaces. In the production of self flux or super-flux sinter, high calcium […]
Fluorocarbon & Hydrocarbon Collectors
Quartz did not float significantly at any pH value between pH2 and pH12 when any of the anionic collectors were used. The flotation of alumina with anionic collectors is depicted in figure 1. It can be seen that SOL functions as a good collector for alumina over most of the pH range studied, the recovery […]
Increase Uranium Recovery by Nitric Acid Leaching
To meet these uranium demands, larger, lower grade, and refractory ore bodies will need to be exploited. The utilization of these ores will require the development of new and improved processing technology. In its program of Advancing Minerals Technology, the Bureau of Mines is investigating innovative methods for recovering minerals and metals from low-grade and […]
Flocculation Dewatering Clay
As part of its mission to effect pollution abatement in mineral processing, we entered into a cooperative research project with 10 Florida phosphate mining companies. The objectives of the project were to seek means for disposing of phosphatic clay wastes and for reclaiming mined land. Phosphatic slimes represent one of the principal waste products resulting from […]
Aluminum Sulfate Leach Solution Extracting Iron
Increasing usage of aluminum and competition for foreign reserves of bauxite have created a renewed interest in the development of domestic aluminum resources. Investigations were conducted into producing aluminum from domestic clays, anorthosite, and alunite in order to assure a continuing supply in the face of an uncertain world situation. Processes were developed that were […]
Zinc Electrolysis
Zinc Electrolysis was studied to help maintain an adequate domestic minerals base, the Bureau of Mines is investigating an aqueous chlorine-oxygen leaching procedure to produce ZnCl2 from sulfide concentrate and is also studying a fused-salt electrolytic technique to produce zinc metal from ZnCl2. Several chlorine leach/electrolysis methods for treating zinc ores and concentrates have been […]
Electroslag & Electric Arc Furnace Processes
Demand for pressure vessel steels for use in power generation and energy transport applications is increasing in the United States. Coupled with the increased demand is the requirement for higher quality steels that are better able to withstand temperature extremes and mechanical stresses, and that possess greater tensile ductility, impact strengths, and isotropy. One important […]
Electrorefining Copper
This report discusses Electrorefining Copper research conducted to increase the rate, deposit purity, and overall efficiency in industrial processes used to electrodeposit and purify metals by increasing substantially the operating current density range and optimizing the deposition process. Traditionally, copper refineries operate electrolytic cells at a current density of 20 amp/ft². At this current density, the […]