Fibre-reinforced composites: Single-crystal mullite fibres from topaz. The project aims to develop the means of fabricating single-crystal mullite fibres from topaz that are suitable for reinforcement of metal and ceramic matrix composites. Single-crystal mullite is the most sought after fibrous additive, but is not available commercially. It is expected to attract an immediate clientele in laboratories and companies servicing the aviation industry and the military. This will allow large depos ....Fibre-reinforced composites: Single-crystal mullite fibres from topaz. The project aims to develop the means of fabricating single-crystal mullite fibres from topaz that are suitable for reinforcement of metal and ceramic matrix composites. Single-crystal mullite is the most sought after fibrous additive, but is not available commercially. It is expected to attract an immediate clientele in laboratories and companies servicing the aviation industry and the military. This will allow large deposit of topaz in Torrington, NSW to be used to develop a high-value niche product (fibres) and a large-volume, low-value product (fluoride). This will provide significant economic and environmental benefits and it addresses the research priorities - Resources and Advanced Manufacturing.Read moreRead less
Application of Water Based Fractionation in the Assessment of Metallurgical Coal. The metallurgical coal market (13% of coal market) is highly specialized, and competitive. The coal, which is utilized as a reducing agent in iron making, represents more than 52% of Australian coal exports. This study addresses growing evidence that organic liquids used to fractionate and in turn assess metallurgical coals lead to negative assessments, hence loss of markets, and lost opportunities. A new water bas ....Application of Water Based Fractionation in the Assessment of Metallurgical Coal. The metallurgical coal market (13% of coal market) is highly specialized, and competitive. The coal, which is utilized as a reducing agent in iron making, represents more than 52% of Australian coal exports. This study addresses growing evidence that organic liquids used to fractionate and in turn assess metallurgical coals lead to negative assessments, hence loss of markets, and lost opportunities. A new water based fractionation method will be established, and a systematic investigation into the effects of the organic liquids will be undertaken. These results will be used to build a case for replacing the organic liquids used in the industry, which are known to have negative health and environmental impacts. Read moreRead less
Ehanced Hydrodynamic Fractionation of Particles. The coal industry, which is a major contributor to the Australian economy, urgently needs a new washability method following its decision to abandon the existing laboratory standard. The existing method relies on the use of heavy organic liquids which are known to be toxic to human health. The 'water-based' approach proposed in this study overcomes the problem of risk to human health, thus benefiting Australian workers, the immediate industry, and ....Ehanced Hydrodynamic Fractionation of Particles. The coal industry, which is a major contributor to the Australian economy, urgently needs a new washability method following its decision to abandon the existing laboratory standard. The existing method relies on the use of heavy organic liquids which are known to be toxic to human health. The 'water-based' approach proposed in this study overcomes the problem of risk to human health, thus benefiting Australian workers, the immediate industry, and wider community. New separation technologies that could benefit the minerals industries and other key industries should follow. The project will also result in the education and training of two postgraduate students, and the advancement of two postdoctoral researchers in this area of industry. Read moreRead less
Enhancing Direct Cu Recovery through Increased Gas Processing Understanding. This project aims to investigate mechanisms of copper loss during smelting and find new ways to reduce the loss. Smelting, which produces copper matte product and slag tailings, is an important step of the copper-making process from copper sulphides. The loss of copper to slag can be as high as 12 per cent. The project aims to create new knowledge about copper loss by matte droplets floated with gas bubbles generated by ....Enhancing Direct Cu Recovery through Increased Gas Processing Understanding. This project aims to investigate mechanisms of copper loss during smelting and find new ways to reduce the loss. Smelting, which produces copper matte product and slag tailings, is an important step of the copper-making process from copper sulphides. The loss of copper to slag can be as high as 12 per cent. The project aims to create new knowledge about copper loss by matte droplets floated with gas bubbles generated by chemical reactions to the slag phase. The outcomes are intended to enable copper smelters to maximise direct copper recovery, reduce copper production costs and increase the productivity of the smelting process.Read moreRead less
Designing starches for increased productivity in mineral flotation. Designing starches for increased productivity in mineral flotation. This project aims to understand the process of starch-mineral surface interactions, and design and develop tailored starch depressant/flocculant biopolymers for mineral beneficiation via the froth flotation process. Natural and modified starches are used as depressants and flocculants in mineral flotation, but scientists lack knowledge of mechanisms describing s ....Designing starches for increased productivity in mineral flotation. Designing starches for increased productivity in mineral flotation. This project aims to understand the process of starch-mineral surface interactions, and design and develop tailored starch depressant/flocculant biopolymers for mineral beneficiation via the froth flotation process. Natural and modified starches are used as depressants and flocculants in mineral flotation, but scientists lack knowledge of mechanisms describing starch-mineral surface interactions, particularly how they process base metal sulphides. This project also intends to develop starch characterisation techniques and novel methods for modifying starch structures and functionalities. Anticipated outcomes are new novel manufacturing applications for starch in Australia.Read moreRead less
Improving the processing of low quality iron ores by the modification of particle interactions. This project is aimed at modifying particle interactions to selectively stabilise or destabilise minerals during grinding and subsequent separation of low quality iron ores. The project will lead to improving grinding energy efficiency, increasing iron mineral production and reducing the impact of iron ore tailings on health and environment.
Reducing the deleterious impacts of clay particle interactions with valuable minerals in copper and gold processing. This project seeks to understand the rheological behaviour of clay minerals and the effect of the viscosity caused by clay minerals on gas dispersion, the transport of network structures and the locking of the structures in the froth in mineral flotation. Novel methods will be developed to improve flotation separation by reducing the viscosity.
Hot stage separation of non-ferrous fraction during iron ore reduction. The project aims to provide in-situ investigation of the behaviour and properties of the non-ferrous fraction in iron ore during reduction. The results aim to allow industry to: improve the quality of the final metallic iron product; economically separate and recover high-value non-ferrous impurities in the iron ore; reduce waste generated by ironmaking; and enable utilisation of, and add value to, iron ores that currently a ....Hot stage separation of non-ferrous fraction during iron ore reduction. The project aims to provide in-situ investigation of the behaviour and properties of the non-ferrous fraction in iron ore during reduction. The results aim to allow industry to: improve the quality of the final metallic iron product; economically separate and recover high-value non-ferrous impurities in the iron ore; reduce waste generated by ironmaking; and enable utilisation of, and add value to, iron ores that currently are not commercially viable due to their high impurity levels and low iron contents. The project aims to help expand the mining potential of the currently unviable iron ore deposits and enable industry to maintain the economic benefits from iron ore production in the years to come.Read moreRead less
Impact of recycled and low quality process water on sustainable mineral processing practices. Water is in short supply and needs to be considered as a 'key reagent'. The quality of this reagent can vary widely. For a sustainable mineral processing practice, the use of recycled or low quality/saline process water will be essential for a plant to operate in the future. The major benefit is recognition that significant recycle of process water for flotation is achievable if simple water quality con ....Impact of recycled and low quality process water on sustainable mineral processing practices. Water is in short supply and needs to be considered as a 'key reagent'. The quality of this reagent can vary widely. For a sustainable mineral processing practice, the use of recycled or low quality/saline process water will be essential for a plant to operate in the future. The major benefit is recognition that significant recycle of process water for flotation is achievable if simple water quality control and management practices are implemented. In addition, a better understanding and control of water quality in recycled/saline process water may lead to improved flotation stability and performance, and reduced reagent consumption.Read moreRead less
Mineral Flotation - Integrating Science and Practice. Froth flotation is one of the most important processes in the recovery of valuable minerals from ores. This project aims to achieve a quantum improvement in the understanding of flotation, delivered as a computer model that will predict flotation response from measurable particle properties such as size, mineral composition and hydrophobicity. Providing the scientific foundation for the current practice of flotation, it will also allow floa ....Mineral Flotation - Integrating Science and Practice. Froth flotation is one of the most important processes in the recovery of valuable minerals from ores. This project aims to achieve a quantum improvement in the understanding of flotation, delivered as a computer model that will predict flotation response from measurable particle properties such as size, mineral composition and hydrophobicity. Providing the scientific foundation for the current practice of flotation, it will also allow floatability to be predicted when regrinding, oxidation or reagent addition occurs, which is beyond the scope of any current modelling approach. The model will be validated on full-scale flotation plants in Australian mineral processing operations.Read moreRead less