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MT 520 Mineral Processing - Mass Balancing

The document discusses mass balancing in mineral processing, focusing on terminologies such as pulp, slurry, and sludge. It explains the measurement of slurry density, dilution ratios, and metallurgical balances, providing examples for practical application. The content is aimed at understanding the flow of materials in mineral processing operations.

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33 views16 pages

MT 520 Mineral Processing - Mass Balancing

The document discusses mass balancing in mineral processing, focusing on terminologies such as pulp, slurry, and sludge. It explains the measurement of slurry density, dilution ratios, and metallurgical balances, providing examples for practical application. The content is aimed at understanding the flow of materials in mineral processing operations.

Uploaded by

mwamba chanda
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The

Copperbel
Chemical t
Engineeri University
ng
Departme
nt

Mass balancing in mineral


processing

Presented by

Evans Chomba
The Copperbelt University
Some Common Terminologies

 Most of the mineral beneficiation operations


are wet. The mixture of water and solid
particles is known as Pulp.
 Suspension: The solid particles are well dispersed
throughout in suspension.
 Slurry: A mixture of fine solid particles and water

 Sludge: Thick pulp i.e., pulp with less quantity of


water
2
Knowledge & Service.
 Pulp or slurry density is most easily measured in terms of
weight of the slurry per unit volume (gm/cm3 or kg/m3). A
sample of slurry taken in a container of known volume is
weighed to give slurry density directly.
 Marcy Scale available in the market gives direct reading
for the density of the slurry and % solids in the slurry.
 The composition of a slurry is often represented as the
fraction (or percent) of solids by weight.

3
Knowledge & Service.
Density of slurry
 If the densities of slurry, water and dry solids are
represented as ρsl., ρw., and ρp, respectively, then Cw,
can be calculated.
 Since the total volume of the slurry is equal to the
volume of the solids plus the volume of water, then for
unit weight of the slurry

4
Knowledge & Service.
Density of slurry

 Similarly, the total weight of the slurry is equal to the


weight of the solids plus the weight of the water, then
for unit volume of the slurry

5
Knowledge & Service.
Dilution Ratio
 Dilution ratio is the ratio of the weight of the water to
the weight of the solids in the slurry. Therefore,

6
Knowledge & Service.
Example

 A fine ore processing plant treats 700 t of solids per


hour. The feed pulp contains 35% solids by weight.
Calculate the dilution ratio. Also find out the water
required in m3 per hour.

7
Knowledge & Service.
Metallurgical Balances
 Uses

 Steady-state accounting of mass flows in a system

 Evaluation of metallurgical test work

 Comparison of two different mills or circuits

 Process control of an operation plant

 Properties of the Balance

 Requires samples for assay and weights/flow rates

 Accuracy of the assays used

 Turnaround time of the assays

8
Knowledge & Service.
Metallurgical Balances
 The method relies on equations and tables

Equations

2-Product Formula

9
Knowledge & Service.
1
Knowledge & Service. 0
Example
 The feed to a flotation plant assays 0.8% copper. The
concentrate produced assays 25% Cu, and the tailings 0.15% Cu.

 Calculate the recovery of copper to the concentrate, the ratio of


concentration and the enrichment ratio.

1
Knowledge & Service. 1
Example

 Analyze the following circuit and determine unknowns

1
Knowledge & Service. 2
Solution

1
Knowledge & Service. 3
Example
 A flotation plant treats 500 t of solids per hour. The
feed pulp, containing 40% solids by weight, is
conditioned for 5 min with reagents before being
pumped to flotation. Calculate the volume of
conditioning tank required. (Density of solids is 2700
kg/m3)

1
Knowledge & Service. 4
Solution

1
Knowledge & Service. 5
Thank You

The
Copperbel
t
University
www.cbu.ac.zm

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