Density-based separation innovations in coal and minerals processing applications

Abstract

Density-based separators have been used as a preferred method of concentrating minerals and upgrading coal for several centuries. However, significant technological advances continue to be developed and introduced into commercial practice. The main focus of development has been the improvement in separation efficiency over a larger particle size range and the ability to achieve effective density-based separations for particles as small as 10 microns. The success of enhanced gravity separators in the recovery of ultrafine particles has resulted in their implementation into grinding circuits in an effort to prevent overgrinding and reduce circulating loads while also reducing the consumption of the chemicals used in conventional recovery processes and circuits. A review of recent innovations in density-based separations is provided in this publication along with the impact on the strategies and circuits used to process a wide range of minerals and coal.