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By Alexandre Silva Guimarães

Investigou-se a extração seletiva de Ca e Mg do licor sulfúrico concentrado de Ni visando sua purificação. Observou-se que a mistura sinérgica dos extratantes D2EHPA + ácido naftênico apresenta maior afinidade na extração de Ca em pH = 5. Comportamento oposto foi verificado pelo extratante Cyanex 272, cuja preferência de extração é pelo Mg para 5 = pH = 6. A cinética de extração de Ca e Mg é rápida atingindo o equilíbrio em menos de 6 minutos. A purificação do licor de Ni requer a utilização de 2 circuitos de extração em operações estagiadas. No primeiro circuito, Ca pode ser removido do licor empregando-se o sistema orgânico D2EHPA (10% v/v) + ácido naftênico (20% v/v). O pH ótimo é 3,5, no qual foram extraídos 72% de Ca (ßCa/Ni = 40) em uma contatação. No segundo circuito, o licor deve ser submetido a uma extração de Mg pelo Cyanex 272 (20% v/v). O pH operacional propício é 5,5 com extração de 66% de Mg (ßMg/Ni = 16, uma contatação). O licor purificado de Ni pode ser encaminhado à etapa de eletrorrecuperação almejando-se a obtenção de Ni metálico.

Oct 30, 2017

By Mariana Beatriz dos Reis Silva

A influência da temperatura de reaquecimento e do tempo entre passes na evolução microestrutural dos ASTM F138 e ISO 5832-9 durante o processamento termomecânico simulado foram investigados. Ambos os materiais foram reaquecidos a 1200°C e, por comparação, o ISO 5832-9 foi reaquecido a 1250°C. As amostras foram submetidas a simulações de deformações em testes de torção com tempo entre passes de 50 e 5 s. As amostras foram caracterizadas por MO, MET, EDX, EBSD e testes de microdurezas. As curvas de tensão-deformação, a evolução microestrutural e precipitação foram analisadas e correlacionadas com o refinamento de grãos. O aço ISO 5832-9 reaquecido a 1250°C mostrou um comportamento diferente devido a maior dissolução dos precipitados.

Aug 17, 2017

By Paulo Rogério Minatto

A corrosão provocada pelo CO2 associada ao tipo de escoamento é uma das mais agressivas ao aço de baixo carbono o API X65. O petróleo extraído do pré-sal de baixa profundidade apresenta maior concentração de CO2 podendo aumentar os pontos de corrosão nos equipamento e nas tubulações. O dióxido de carbono sendo um óxido ácido em contato com a água forma o ácido carbônico que reage com o metal formando camadas protetoras de óxidos ou de carbonatos. Essas camadas que ficam entre o metal e o fluído tendem em alguns casos atuarem como protetoras, mas à medida que aumenta a intensidade do fluxo essas camadas podem ser rompidas formando novos pontos de corrosão. As indústrias petroquímicas estão investindo em novos processos de perfuração e no desenvolvimento de novas ligas metálicas que possam conter a corrosão provocada pelo CO2 nos equipamento e nas tubulações que transportam o petróleo e seus derivados. Este trabalho tem por objetivo caracterizar a taxa de corrosão por CO2 em condições de fluxo do aço API X65, nas condições normais de temperatura e pressão, utilizando uma bancada de ensaio dinâmico (loop). Mantendo a concentração constante de CO2 em solução aquosa de NaCl 1% foi monitorado o pH, a temperatura e a concentração de íons ferrosos na solução. A taxa de corrosão foi determinada pela perda de massa, estabelecida após os ensaios. Como conclusão observou-se que CO2 provocou uma maior perda de massa para as amostra com maior rugosidade.

Aug 16, 2017

By Anna Paula Littig Berger

A remoção do fosfóro através do processo de desfosforação do ferro-gusa tem sido cada vez mais relevante, devido a influência que exerce de forma prejudicial as propriedades do aço e devido a extensão do cenário de escassez de minérios com menor teores de fosfóro. Este trabalho tem como objetivo a avaliação termodinâmica de misturas à base de dolomita e finos de minério utilizadas no processo de desfosforação realizado em panela para o refino do ferro-gusa. Verificou-se uma tendência de maiores valores de eficiência para o processo de desfosforação quando aumenta-se a razão de massa de desfosforante e massa de gusa.

Aug 17, 2017

By Valtemir Coelho Rodrigues

Nos últimos anos face a quantidade significativa de reparos gerais, parciais e emergenciais no revestimento refratário dos fornos em um curto período de tempo (média 02 fornos por ano), haviam paradas prolongadas dos fornos de cal para execução destes reparos onde era necessário prever todos os anos um alto valor para compra de cal, revestimento refratário e mão de obra de manutenção refratária. Afim de reduzir estes custos, aumentar a disponibilidade e produtividade dos fornos, foi feito um estudo e análise para detectar os problemas para serem tratados. Chegamos a conclusão que para aumentar a campanha dos fornos era necessário manter um ritmo estável de produção para evitarmos os choques térmicos no revestimento, treinamento da contratada e implantação do novo projeto para realização de limpeza dos canais o que eliminava o impacto de alavancas contra o revestimento, revisar o projeto o que mudaria a geometria e a composição de algumas peças refratárias, aperfeiçoamento dos monitoramentos do revestimento dos fornos para identificação mais rápido das ocorrências de problema de forma a permitir a aplicação de técnicas corretivas de maneira eficiente além de um intenso trabalho junto ao quadro operacional incluindo cursos e melhorias nos procedimentos que impactavam diretamente na operação correta dos fornos, além disso, melhorias significativas de manutenção contribuíram para melhor performance dos fornos de cal. É possível checar os resultados que este projeto proporcionou aumentando em 06 anos no mínimo a campanha dos fornos eliminando os reparos parciais e emergenciais realizando somente reparos gerais além da redução de custos.

Aug 17, 2017

By Rodrigo Vitorino da Silva

Ligas a base de zircônio são utilizadas na indústria nuclear devido à suas boas propriedades mecânicas, baixa absorção de nêutrons e boa resistência à corrosão. No entanto, durante a operação do reator, o hidrogênio é absorvido pela liga, resultando na formação de hidretos. Para aumentar o tempo de operação desses componentes é necessário o desenvolvimento de novas ligas que retardem ou diminuam esse efeito. Este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a influência dos tratamentos termomecânicos no zircônio puro, através de testes que avaliem a corrosão, absorção e dessorção de hidrogênio nas condições laminada a frio e tratada termicamente. Análises de difração de raios-X indicam a existência de uma matriz Zr-a para as condições analisadas. Após a hidrogenação são formados ZrH e ZrH2. O zircônio puro encruado absorveu 1,23%p H. O zircônio puro laminado e tratado termicamente absorveu 0,85%p H. O resultado de DSC mostra que a decomposição dos hidretos ocorre em faixas de temperatura entre 318 e 368°C para a condição tratada termicamente. Para condição laminada, o resultado mostra uma transformação de fase entre 565 e 650°C. O conjunto de resultados permite concluir que a amostra tratada termicamente absorve menos hidrogênio, porém o início do processo é menor. A amostra tratada termicamente é menos resistente a corrosão e a velocidade da corrosão é menor.

Aug 16, 2017

By Adriano Francisco dos Santos

Dentre as diversas atividades executadas na área de Utilidades de uma empresa, o processo de clarificação e potabilização da água é de suma importância para a manutenção dos processos e das pessoas que ali trabalham. O presente trabalho visa mostrar a preocupação da Área de Energia com os funcionários, colaboradores e comunidade, no que se diz respeito aos riscos a saúde e segurança na utilização do cloro gasoso no processo de clarificação e potabilização da água e as atitudes tomadas para eliminação desse risco, durante o processo de substituição do cloro gasoso pela tecnologia Oxamine®.

Jul 31, 2018

By H. El-Faramawy, A. Ahmed, M. Eissa, M. El-Fawakhry, T. Mattar, S. N. Ghali, E. M. Kotb

As a result of the depletion of high-grade manganese reserves, it has become necessary to consider the exploitation of low-grade manganese ores. The main problem of low-grade manganese ore is the low Mn/Fe ratio, which makes it unfit for the production of manganese ferroalloys. In this work, a selective reduction technique was used for smelting low-manganese ore in the presence of coke and fluxing material in an electric submerged arc furnace to obtain a rich manganese slag and low-manganese pig iron. The product slag was blended with medium-manganese ore and smelted in an electric submerged arc furnace, in the presence of coke and the fluxing agent, to produce silicomanganese alloy. The influence of reducing agent ratio, charge basicity, and charge Mn/Si ratio on the smelting process was investigated. The optimum conditions were found to be a coke ratio of, 1.35, Mn/Si ratio of 2.0, and charge basicity of 2.5. The silicomanganese alloy produced under these conditions satisfies the specifications for Si16Mn63 and Si17Mn65. The experimental results were applied on a pilot scale, producing a silicomanganese alloy with a chemical composition close to that of the standard specifications.

Jan 2, 2022

By A. M. Venter, C. W. Siyasiya, N. K. K. Arthur, M. G. Willemse, D. Marais

Although additive manufacturing is fast gaining traction in the industrial world as a reputable manufacturing technique to complement traditional mechanical machining, it still has problems such as porosity and residual stresses in components that give rise to cracking, distortion, and delamination, which are important issues to resolve in structural load-bearing applications. This research project focused on the characterization of the evolution of residual stresses in Ti-6Al-4V extra-low interstitial (ELI) additive-manufactured test samples. Four square thin-walled tubular samples were deposited on the same baseplate, using the direct energy deposition laser printing process, to different build heights. The residual stresses were analysed in the as-printed condition by the neutron diffraction technique and correlated to qualitative predictions obtained using the ANSYS software suite. Good qualitative agreement between the stress measurements and predictions were observed. Both approaches revealed the existence of large tensile stresses along the laser track direction at the sections that were built last, i.e., centre of the top layers of the samples. This in addition leads to large tensile stresses at the outer edges (corners) which would have the effect of separating the samples from the baseplate should the stresses exceed the yield strength of the material. Such extreme conditions did not occur in this study, but the stresses did lead to significant distortion of the baseplate. In general, the microstructures and spatial elemental mapping revealed a strong correlation between the macro-segregation of elemental V and the distribution of the β-phase in the printed parts.

Feb 6, 2023

By T. Uysal

The increasing demand for rare earth elements (REE) in highly strategic sectors such as hybrid electric vehicles, renewable energy, communication technologies, and the defense industry has made REE production methods important. In recent years, studies on REE have increased rapidly; however there are many studies on REE, there are not enough studies in the literature on the economics of the beneficiation process. RE ores are generally leached after beneficiation by gravity, magnetic and flotation methods. In this study, direct leaching, attrition scrubbing and leaching, and flotation and leaching methods are evaluated economically based on the data for the Mountain Pass (MP) facility. According to the sensitivity analysis performed as a function of capital cost (CAPEX), operating cost (OPEX), and rare earths oxides (REO) recovery, REO recovery has the biggest effect on the process economies. Although the flotation method entails additional investment and operating costs, transportation and operating costs are significantly reduced result of the higher grade and recovery. The flotation method is more profitable, with larger NPV and IRR values and a shorter payback period.

Jul 2, 2022

By R. Uwaoma, A. Goosen, R. Matjie, K. Mphahlele, J. Bunt

Coal properties that are associated with wear and damage of grinding equipment during pulverization prior to combustion were investigated. A South African Highveld feed coal and its beneficiated fractions were crushed to <1 >0.25 mm particles for the grindability tests. These particles were milled and screened into <75 μm and >75 μm fractions, which were analysed by different techniques to establish a correlation with the conventional Hardgrove Grindability Index (HGI). The <1.5 g.cm-3 float fraction, which contained 93 vol.% (mineral matter free) total -macerals,9% kaolinite, and had the lowest HGI (57) (hardest to grind) was pulverized for 15, 30, 60, and 120 minutes for particle size distribution analysis. This analysis indicated that the content of <75 μm particles increases with increased grinding time. The >1.9 g.cm-3 sink fraction, with the highest HGI (76), 44% kaolinite, and 20 vol.% total macerals, was ground easily to generate the highest proportion of <75 μm particles. Based on higher correlation coefficients (R2 = 0.77–0.91), the ash yield, mineral matter, petrographic composition, and fixed-carbon have significant effects on the HGI. Conversely, the inherent moisture and total sulphur (R2 = 0.48–0.62) have only minor effects on the HGI. Results from this investigation could be implemented in the preparation of a suitable pulverized fuel with little equipment wear, as well as utilizing mineralogical and petrographic compositions. Finally, the effect of microlithotypes and maceral types in South African feed coals on the HGI should be investigated in further pulverization and grindability studies.

Jul 5, 2023

By J. A. Batista-Rodríguez, F. J. López-Saucedo

A new methodology is proposed for the preliminary assessment of coal blend quality, which combines gamma-ray spectrometry and magnetic susceptibility measurements. This methodology does not replacethe conventional methods of assessing coal quality, but can help to control the quality of the coal blending process, as well as reduce the amount of proximate analysis required and the determinations of calorific value and total sulphur. The methodology includes five steps. First, both geophysical measurements aremade with handheld equipment. The samples with magnetic susceptibility ≤ 1 × 10-3 SI are then separated. From these samples, those with total gamma intensity ≤ 20 nGy/h are separated. These samples have a higher calorific value and lower ash and moisture content. To separate the samples of better quality and with lower total sulphur content, in step four the samples with total gamma intensity > 20 nGy/h are separated from those with magnetic susceptibility ≤ 1 × 10-3 SI. This last group includes samplesthat will cause less total sulphur-related environmental pollution. In the final step, the quality of both radioactive sample groups is corroborated from the calorific value measurement and ash, moisture, andtotal sulphur contents in at least 10% of all coal blend samples from both groups. In this study, more than1000 samples were analysed with this new methodology, and the results are remarkably similar to the ASTM classification of the Sabinas Basin coals.

Apr 2, 2022

By W. C. Joughin

The science of soil mechanics is 100 years old, and rock mechanics is about 80 years old. While methods of analysis and design have been developed and have evolved over time, these are relatively young sciences. The rapid increases in computing power and new technologies have enabled more sophisticated modelling and monitoring. However, there are still many aspects of soil and rock mechanics that are not well understood. Geotechnical failures, which have major consequences, still occur. These consequences may include environmental damage, major production holdups and associated loss of revenue, damage to infrastructure, and loss of life. High-consequence events, which are rare, are more difficult to anticipate and to design for, because by their nature they involve extraordinary circumstances or conditions, often geological in nature. The risks are usually mitigated by conservative designs and monitoring. Detailed geotechnical investigations help us to understand the natural variability of soil and rock masses and identify unusual or unexpected conditions. Investigating and researching major geotechnical failures is essential to enable these unusual circumstances to be anticipated. In the past, severe unanticipated events may have been treated as natural events or ‘acts of God’. However, society now has much greater expectations and it is essential to have policies and procedures in place that enable appropriate management of these rare, high-consequence risks. A good example is the Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM), which was introduced after the catastrophic dam collapse at Vale’s Corrego de Feijao mine in Brumadinho, Brazil. The address will explain the concepts of uncertainty and variability, and how they should be taken into account in geotechnical design. The challenges facing geotechnical engineers, mine owners, and managers will be discussed. referencing a number of real case studies.

Sep 6, 2023

By P. M. Mashaba, S. O. Bada

An advanced high internal phase water-in-oil (HIP W/O) emulsion binder and flotation with an internal dispersed water phase of 95 vol% was used to beneficiate South African weathered coal from discard dumps. Five coal samples with calorific values ranged from 8.48 MJ/kg to 20.94 MJ/kg were utilized. The performance of the HIP W/O emulsion was compared to that of kerosene in terms of the physicochemical properties of the clean coal products. A 5 kg/t emulsion binder addition produced a high-quality coal concentrate with 11.76% ash and a heating value of 28.61 MJ/kg from a sample containing 29.34% ash. Using the same dose and coal sample, kerosene resulted in a clean coal concentrate with 17.47% ash and a calorific value of 26.42 MJ/kg. Further samples were also beneficiated using 5 kg/t of W/O emulsion. The highest increase in calorific value was achieved from the beneficiation of a sample containing 48.71% ash, from 8.48 MJ/kg to 18.16 MJ/kg. It has been established that emulsion binders can upgrade coal samples dumped many decades ago.

Aug 2, 2022

By T. Bruce, R. C. A. Minnitt

Mining operations are generally reluctant to install high-cost sampling systems at operations that have been functioning for many years. The principal objection to installing appropriate equipment to extract correct and representative samples in process flows is the time and costs involved. The Theory of Sampling (TOS) provides a structured framework for identifying and quantifying the errors and bias associated with any sampling event, but this may be insufficient to initiate substantial investment in correctly designed sampling equipment. Financial losses arising from substandard sampling installations are usually disregarded because the value-add from a good quality sampling solution is invisible, but the cost is quite obvious. Depending on the needs, a less-than-perfect or fit-for-purpose sampling solution may be acceptable, provided the magnitude of sampling errors is understood and the assay results are interpreted accordingly. Categorical levels of acceptable accuracy and precision can be established depending on the sampling position in the mining value chain and the nature of the decisions to be made. The objective benefits of proposed fit-for-purpose sampling solutions should be presented to relevant decision-makers in such a way that adverse subjective decisions are countered so that appropriate solutions are implemented. Practical examples of the benefits from motivating the implementation of fit for purpose sampling solutions at sampling facilities around the world are provided.

Jul 2, 2022

By C. Ndou, T. Mothupi, H. Mandende

The technological advances in efficient, rapid, and non-destructive hyperspectral core logging systems for systematic mineral mapping have led to the discovery and exploitation of new mineral deposits Hyperspectral imaging in the long-wave infrared range has been recently used successfully to identify various phosphatebearing minerals (monazite, xenotime, and britholite), with limited work on apatite associated with mafic-ultramafic layered intrusions. In this study we investigate the effectiveness of a hyperspectral imaging (HSI) system with long-wave infrared (LWIR) bandwidthsto identify apatite in the Upper Zone of the Bushveld Complex. The accuracy of the HSI results was validated by mineralogical and geochemical data. The two apatite-enriched zones detected by HSI suggesting widespread development of apatite throughout the uppermost 600 m of the Upper Zone. The lower apatite-enriched zone is approximately 40 m thick, while the upper apatite-enriched zone is about 23 m thick, consistent with previous thickness determinations by traditional logging and analytical methods. Spectral mixing observed in the response of apatite is ascribed either to the common association of apatite and olivine in these rocks, or to differences between the spatial resolution of the hyperspectral image and the size of apatite grains. The VNIR-SWIR wavelength region did not show prominent spectral features of apatite. Nonetheless, HSI in the LWIR range is effective in mapping apatite and should therefore be considered as an exploration tool. This research advances our knowledge of the reflectance spectroscopy of REE-bearing minerals, which makes it easier to detect, identify, and quantify REE-bearing silicate minerals by HSI.

Feb 6, 2023

By N. V. Moraka

Mining companies are required by law to improve representation of women on their boards. However, progress in this regard has been slow. Boards of directors play an important role in formulating corporate strategy, risk assessment, and effective governance for sustained financial performance. Although some women have successfully maintained board seats, others have been unable to do so. It is difficult to ascertain whether women are being appointed as tokens to satisfy social pressures, as little is known about the experiences of women board members in mining, which may inform or refute tokenism. In-depth interviews were conducted with 20 women and 16 men across six listed mining companies. Thematic data analysis revealed evidence of tokenism where recruitment to mining boards is compliance-based and is informally driven by influential directors. Adverse boardroom experiences that further confirmed tokenism were reported by women, such as disregarding their contributions, condescending behaviour, and limited influence in decision-making, while other women sought to validate their competence and oppose social exclusion. This study recommends that a strong Board Chair and nominations committee is critical to ensure sustainable recruitment of competent and suitably qualified women; and further foster a culture of inclusivity and valuing gender-diverse boards.

Dec 13, 2023

By F. Hörtkorn, Y. Narainsamy

Rather quietly, a new generation of European norms dealing with earthworks has been developed over the past few years, in particular a part of EN 16907 pertaining to extractive waste. Whereas the majority of the parts deal with routine geotechnical aspects, one part deals specifically with tailings dams. The standard is currently in draft form but if this becomes a European Standard, members of the European Union are bound to comply with the regulations. As such, the standard has the capacity to influence mining in Europe and potentially in South Africa. In this paper we review the standard and compare it to the South African standard on mine residues and the recently published Global Industry Standard on Tailings Management (GISTM). We conclude found that although the European norm makes great strides towards increasing tailings dam safety, there is room for improvement. The current South African standard has served well since its inception, but can be improved by using concepts from the European and global tailings standards.

Jun 2, 2022

By T. Szendrei and S. Tose

Historical approaches to the problem of flyrock based on correlation studies and regression analysis, including artificial neural networks and similar techniques, are inherently incapable of addressing two core issues – root causes of flyrock and projection velocity. A further shortcoming of correlation techniques is that they give no information on the influence of rock size and shape on the flight distance. The scaled depth of burial model for crater blasting in the collar zone and bench face does not specifically address the question of flyrock velocity. A third approach, based on flight trajectory calculations, often neglects the very significant effects of air resistance on the trajectory. Some trajectory models incorporate air resistance but use an implausible fragment velocity model that cannot propel sizeable rocks to distances much beyond 150 m. Nonetheless, trajectory calculation incorporating the effects of air drag affords the most promising approach to the prediction of flyrock range. A unique and insightful feature of the proposed realistic flight modelling is that it collapses all suspected causes of flyrock, many of which are not well understood, to just a single parameter – the launch velocity. This indicates that the root causes of flyrock lie in the mechanisms of momentum transfer to broken rock and suggests new avenues of study.

Dec 13, 2022

By L. A. Jordan, D. van Vuuren

A two-dimensional finite difference model has been developed to describe the reduction of kilogram quantities of dehydrated phosphogypsum. The model’s scope has been limited to focus on the heat transfer and reactions that occur within a mass of material contained in a vessel inside a furnace rather than also including the effects of heat transfer to the vessel. Changes in the heat transfer properties (k, ρ, and Cp) are incorporated as the composition of the mass changes as the chemical reactions progress. The model is validated against experimental data, with samples heated to 1000°C at 3°C min−1 while purging with nitrogen gas. A sensitivity analysis of model predictions to the pre-exponential factor of the reaction rate constant of the main chemical reaction and the thermal conductivity of the powder bed indicated that, at the envisaged process conditions, the behaviour of the system depends much more on the rate of heat transfer than on the rate of the chemical reaction. The model demonstrated a significant increase in accuracy when the thermal conductivity was modelled to increase linearly with temperature compared to assuming a constant value.

Oct 1, 2022