Use of Parallel Inclined Channels to Enhance Foam Drainage in Ion Flotation. This study is concerned with increasing the rates of foam drainage in flotation processes. The findings will have direct benefit in the field of ion flotation, and will be highly relevant to the flotation of high value minerals worth tens of billions of dollars annually. The Reflux Classifier, a device that employs the Boycott Effect to achieve a significant increase in the effective area of the vessel, will be used. Th ....Use of Parallel Inclined Channels to Enhance Foam Drainage in Ion Flotation. This study is concerned with increasing the rates of foam drainage in flotation processes. The findings will have direct benefit in the field of ion flotation, and will be highly relevant to the flotation of high value minerals worth tens of billions of dollars annually. The Reflux Classifier, a device that employs the Boycott Effect to achieve a significant increase in the effective area of the vessel, will be used. This device has already attracted three national awards in the area of gravity concentration in mineral processing. The study is ideal for training new researchers, especially at the PhD level, given the importance of the field to Australia. Read moreRead less
The evolution of effective stress in sedimenting clayey slurries. Activities such as water treatment, mining and dredging produce enormous volumes of semi-solid waste annually. The safe and environmentally responsible management of these wastes is costly, consumes vast quantities of water, and sterilises large areas of land. We will address these issues through understanding and manipulating the interaction between individual particles in these slurries to produce desired engineering outcomes. T ....The evolution of effective stress in sedimenting clayey slurries. Activities such as water treatment, mining and dredging produce enormous volumes of semi-solid waste annually. The safe and environmentally responsible management of these wastes is costly, consumes vast quantities of water, and sterilises large areas of land. We will address these issues through understanding and manipulating the interaction between individual particles in these slurries to produce desired engineering outcomes. This will be done by developing a laboratory testing column in which the gain in strength and rigidity of a settling slurry are fully characterised, enabling an improvement in design of safe and economical impoundment structures for these waste materials.
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Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354672
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
ARC Network in Mineral Processing, Extraction and Refining. The Network aims to develop long-term, collaborative research and training links between world-class researchers and research centres in mineral processing, extraction and refining. The goal is to ensure that Australia's major export industry is sustainable, environmentally acceptable and technically at the cutting edge.
Networking key researchers with complementary skills and expertise will enhance research quality, encourage a hol ....ARC Network in Mineral Processing, Extraction and Refining. The Network aims to develop long-term, collaborative research and training links between world-class researchers and research centres in mineral processing, extraction and refining. The goal is to ensure that Australia's major export industry is sustainable, environmentally acceptable and technically at the cutting edge.
Networking key researchers with complementary skills and expertise will enhance research quality, encourage a holistic approach to problem solving and support researchers to tackle big challenges, beyond their usual scope, that will transform the industry. The outcomes will be greater international competitiveness, better resource utilisation, and the incubation of new research leaders, enhancing Australia's minerals R&D infrastructure.Read moreRead less
Australian Mineral Science Research Institute: Transformation of resource-based industries through the generation and application of new technologies. The research conducted within AMSRI will enable our existing resource-based industries to be transformed through the application of new technologies, helping to create an environmentally sustainable nation, a key national research priority. The research programs in energy efficient liberation, frugal water use and waste management, innovative proc ....Australian Mineral Science Research Institute: Transformation of resource-based industries through the generation and application of new technologies. The research conducted within AMSRI will enable our existing resource-based industries to be transformed through the application of new technologies, helping to create an environmentally sustainable nation, a key national research priority. The research programs in energy efficient liberation, frugal water use and waste management, innovative processing, material and interface science, advanced analysis and mathematics in minerals processing are of critical importance to Australia's major export industry. AMSRI will produce unique graduate students, educated in a multi-university, industry-linked research environment, who will provide a strong intellectual resource to both Australian industry and research institutions.Read moreRead less
Managing Contaminant Metals in Complex Hydrometallurgical Processes; Meeting techno-economic, environmental and operability objectives. Sustainability of the minerals industry is predicated on being able to refine metals from increasingly lower-grade ores. This brings with it the critical problem of managing all contaminant elements present to ensure overall economic and environmental performance. Hydrometallurgical processes are favoured, though difficulties arise in controlling product charact ....Managing Contaminant Metals in Complex Hydrometallurgical Processes; Meeting techno-economic, environmental and operability objectives. Sustainability of the minerals industry is predicated on being able to refine metals from increasingly lower-grade ores. This brings with it the critical problem of managing all contaminant elements present to ensure overall economic and environmental performance. Hydrometallurgical processes are favoured, though difficulties arise in controlling product character to suit downstream processing. This project will develop a fundamental understanding of precipitation processes for optimal recovery of contaminant elements (for a novel zinc process case study), considering the quantitative relationship between all major physico-chemical and engineering features. This will lead to enhanced process designs to meet techno-economic, environmental and operability objectivesRead moreRead less
BIOPROSPECTING FOR NOVEL EXTRACTANTS TO SEPARATE NICKEL AND COBALT. Cobalt (Co) is a common 'guest' element in nickel (Ni) ore. Separating these metals is crucial to the production of high purity of Ni and Co, valuable metals for the Australian economy. Currently, processing of Ni-ore relies on energy-intensive dissolution followed by separation of Co from Ni using expensive synthetic chelators. A few rare Ni- and Co-accumulating plants however, have evolved biochemical mechanisms to distingu ....BIOPROSPECTING FOR NOVEL EXTRACTANTS TO SEPARATE NICKEL AND COBALT. Cobalt (Co) is a common 'guest' element in nickel (Ni) ore. Separating these metals is crucial to the production of high purity of Ni and Co, valuable metals for the Australian economy. Currently, processing of Ni-ore relies on energy-intensive dissolution followed by separation of Co from Ni using expensive synthetic chelators. A few rare Ni- and Co-accumulating plants however, have evolved biochemical mechanisms to distinguish between Ni and Co. We propose the first determination of the mechanisms of Ni/Co discrimination in these unusual plants, effectively biosprospecting for novel commercial extractants to separate Ni and Co. Read moreRead less
Improving Aqueous Processing and Control of Copper-Uranium Leach Tails Behaviour. The research will provide essential training and equip us with better understanding, appropriate scientific knowledge and diagnostic tools for establishing an effective U and Cu mineral leaching and subsequent treatment processes. Specifically, improved valuable mineral dissolution rate, greater pulp handleability, efficient particles washing and pulp dewatering technology for treating U-Cu metal containing pulps ....Improving Aqueous Processing and Control of Copper-Uranium Leach Tails Behaviour. The research will provide essential training and equip us with better understanding, appropriate scientific knowledge and diagnostic tools for establishing an effective U and Cu mineral leaching and subsequent treatment processes. Specifically, improved valuable mineral dissolution rate, greater pulp handleability, efficient particles washing and pulp dewatering technology for treating U-Cu metal containing pulps, significant increase in productivity and production with reductions in reagents and human risk, will emerge. These beneficial outcomes will increase profitability and competitiveness of BHP-Billiton and Australian mineral export. Read moreRead less
Quantification and Modelling of Particle Flow Mechanisms in Conveyor Transfers. A critical area of solids handling and processing is the transfer of bulk material between conveyor belts. Design of conveyor transfers rely heavily on trial and error and/or experience and cannot cope with the complexities of varying particle properties and process requirements. Poor transfer designs can result in reduced QC and service life, significant maintenance/environmental costs and safety concerns. The main ....Quantification and Modelling of Particle Flow Mechanisms in Conveyor Transfers. A critical area of solids handling and processing is the transfer of bulk material between conveyor belts. Design of conveyor transfers rely heavily on trial and error and/or experience and cannot cope with the complexities of varying particle properties and process requirements. Poor transfer designs can result in reduced QC and service life, significant maintenance/environmental costs and safety concerns. The main aims of this project are experimental and theoretical investigations into the flow of particulates through conveyor transfers. This will result in: development of a novel conveyor transfer facility; quantification of transfer parameters and data; development of models to simulate and assist in the design of complete transfers.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
Energy Dissipation and Nanoscale Processes at Moving Contact Lines. The dynamic process of liquids wetting and dewetting, as moving contact lines pass over solid surfaces is central to many industrial operations and natural phenomena. Contact line motion plays a key role in micro and nanofluidics, the foundation of an emergent technology called process intensification, where large industrial processes can be reduced to Lilliputian in size. Substantial energy reduction and other benefits are exp ....Energy Dissipation and Nanoscale Processes at Moving Contact Lines. The dynamic process of liquids wetting and dewetting, as moving contact lines pass over solid surfaces is central to many industrial operations and natural phenomena. Contact line motion plays a key role in micro and nanofluidics, the foundation of an emergent technology called process intensification, where large industrial processes can be reduced to Lilliputian in size. Substantial energy reduction and other benefits are expected from this project, including the transformation of coarse particle flotation. Young PhD scientists and engineers will be educated in a rich research environment, with strong international research collaboration in areas of national priority.Read moreRead less