Thesis (M.M. (Public Policy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, School of Governance, 2014. / This explanatory sequential thesis examined the Minerals Energy Complex (MEC) as a network of policy stakeholders in South Africa’s beneficiation policy adopted in 2011. The MEC is a set of well-developed industries and institutions that have developed around the mining, energy and financial sectors of the South African economy. The MEC, as Fine and Rustomjee (1996, p. 5) see it, evolves over time depending on the balance and distribution of power amongst stakeholders in the mineral sector. This thesis found evidence that the MEC as it exists 2014 has evolved into a policy network of participant stakeholders in the beneficiation policy. The thesis employed network analytic techniques by combining qualitative and quantitative research methodologies. The combination of the two methodologies allows a researcher to utilise findings from different data sets; thereby increasing the comprehensiveness of the study, as pointed out in the literature by Fischer (2011). As Coviello (2005) has illustrated, policy networks can be meaningfully examined with a bifocal lens that integrates both qualitative and quantitative analytic techniques relevant to understanding network structure, relationships between network participants and dynamics of these relationships. The data results derived from research methodology unpacked how the MEC as a policy network of stakeholders is constituted and operates in terms of the resources exchanges around the beneficiation policy. Since the research proposition argued that stakeholders in possession of highly valued resources in the MEC policy network are likely to exercise higher levels of influence in the implementation dynamics of the beneficiation policy, the results generated revealed a limited number of influential stakeholders in the MEC policy network. Against this background, the thesis detailed the type of influence stakeholders may exert, along with their level of interest in the implementation of the beneficiation policy.

South Africa remains the 5th largest producer and 4th largest exporter of coal in the world. It is also the largest supplier of coal to the European Union. This fact is significant as the European Union has recently supported the environmental lobby that threatens the combined full scale use of coal in Europe and other first world countries. This promotes the development of clean coal technologies in order to counter the ever increasing number of environmental constraints threatening the export market. One critical development in clean coal technologies is coal beneficiation, which allows the reduction of ash and inert content. Permian coals from South Africa have characteristically high ash and inertinite contents and therefore require further beneficiation. The Witbank coalfield No. 4 seam is no exception. It can be described as being more inert and having a higher mineral content compared to the No. 2 seam in the same coalfield also mined for export purposes. With the increase in environmental legislation and the push towards “clean coal” this raises a concern in terms of the performance and marketability of export coal produced from the No. 4 seam. This seam will in the future be economically significant and is still a great source for export steam coal. Due to the nature and composition of the No. 4 seam, coal beneficiation is essential to reduce the mineral and inert content to be in line with export quality specification levels. Washability characteristics of the No. 4 seam coal indicate that the No. 4 seam is difficult to beneficiate. Until recently the main clean-ability parameters evaluated in South African export coals as per customer specification included mainly heating value, moisture and ash reduction with little to no work being done on trace element concentration reduction. This paper focuses on the partitioning of the trace elements within the seam in relation to the organic and inorganic affinity of the trace elements and possible methods of trace element reduction by removal using coal beneficiation techniques. The techniques investigated include reduction by washing using dense medium beneficiation and flotation. In each evaluation the focus was on trace-element-tomineral and trace-element-to-organic matter relationship and hence setting the basis for liberation analysis to evaluate reducibility. By the evaluation of the coal mineralogy, petrography and trace element relationships, methods of optimum trace element reduction can be established. With the focus on marketing it was shown that carbon loss need not be sacrificed in the reduction of specific trace elements in the No. 4 seam and that the trace element distribution itself allows for beneficiation whilst maintaining acceptable yields. Processes and possible beneficiation techniques for optimum trace element reduction and marketability in the case of the No.4 seam are proposed.

Dewatering fine coal is needed in many applications but has remained a great challenge. The hydrophobic-hydrophilic separation (HHS) method is a powerful technology to address this problem. However, organic solvents in solvent-coal slurries produced during HHS must be recovered for the method to be economically viable. Here, the experimental studies of recovering solvents from pentane-coal and hexane-coal slurries by combining liquid-solid filtration and in-situ vaporization and removing the solvent by a carrier gas (i.e., drying) are reported. The filtration behaviors are studied under different solid mass loading and filtration pressure. It is shown that using pressure filtration driven by 20 psig nitrogen, over 95% of solvents by mass in the slurries can be recovered, and filtration cakes can be formed in 60 s. The drying behavior was studied using nitrogen and steam at different temperatures and pressures. It is shown that residual solvents in filtration cakes can be reduced below 1400 ppm within 10 s by 15 psig steam superheated to 150C, while other parameter combinations are far less effective in removing solvents. Physical processes involved in drying and the structure of solvent-laden filtration cakes are analyzed in light of these results. / Master of Science / Coal particles below a certain size are discarded to waste tailing ponds as there is no economically viable method for processing them. However, a new process called hydrophobic-hydrophilic separation offers a solution to this problem. A hydrophobic solvent is used to displace water from a coal-water slurry, and it is then easier and cheaper to filter and dry this new coal-solvent slurry. In this work experimental studies of recovering solvents from pentane-coal and hexane-coal slurries by combining filtration and drying are reported. The filtration behaviors are studied under different solid mass loading and filtration pressures. It is shown that using pressure filtration driven by 20 psig nitrogen, over 95% of solvents by mass in the slurry can be recovered, and filtration cakes can be formed in 60 s. The drying behavior was studied using nitrogen and steam at different temperatures and pressures to evaporate any remaining solvents. It is shown that the remaining solvents in filtration cakes can be reduced below 1400 ppm within 10 s by using 15 psig steam superheated to 150C as a drying medium, while other parameter combinations are far less effective in removing solvents. Physical processes involved in drying and the structure of solvent-laden filtration cakes are analyzed in light of these results.

O presente estudo tem como objetivo à caracterização do carvão de Candiota visando seu beneficiamento. A caracterização do carvão para o seu beneficiamento tem sido de grande importância hoje, uma vez que este recurso mineral representa uma alternativa energética em todo o mundo. Entretanto, a previsão de um bom aproveitamento deste recurso mineral, não passa da necessidade da sua caracterização efetiva. O beneficiamento do carvão tem por objetivo promover a redução do teor de cinza, o aumento do teor da matéria carbonosa e conseqüentemente, do poder calorífico. Além disso, promove a redução do teor de enxofre e a obtenção de granulometrias adequadas às especificações industriais, visando a sua utilização em função das necessidades do mercado consumidor. Para a caracterização do carvão de Candiota para este estudo foram elaboradas tabelas comparativas de todas as camadas divididas em dois grupos: camadas inferiores e superiores nos furos 364, 365, 366, 368, 369, 670, 371 e 372. Devido às exigências mínimas no conteúdo de teor de cinzas no carvão mineral para o seu uso no mercado consumidor, foram pré-definidos três cortes de cinzas em 35, 42 e 48 %. Para alcançar o objetivo proposto, foi calculado para todas as camadas presentes nos furos anteriormente referidos, o concentrado e o respectivo rejeito. Também foi calculada para cada camada a recuperação mássica teórica, média ponderada nas frações -25,4 +2,0 mm e -2,0 +0,1mm respectivamente. A fração fina de -0,1 mm foi considerada para descarte. Igualmente foram elaborados os fluxogramas de beneficiamento para todas as camadas do carvão nos furos anteriormente referidos, assim como as suas respectivas curvas médias de blendagem. Não foram usados métodos estatísticos para este estudo, nem a previsão de maior recuperação usando as curvas tromp ou de erro, em contra partida foram elaboradas as curvas médias nas blendagens das camadas inferiores e superiores incluindo neste último a camada Banco Louco. / This study aims to characterize the Candiota coal processing your order. The characterization of coal to its processing has been of great impotrance today, since this non-renewable mineral resource represents an alternative energy source worldwide. However, the forecast of a good use of this mineral resource is but need for effective characterization. The beneficiation of coal aims to promote the reduction of ash content, the increase in content of carbonaceuos matter and therefore, the calorific value.It also promotes the reduction of surfur content and particle size appropriate for obtaining industrial specification for their application to the needs of the consumer market. For the characterization of coal Candiota for this study were prepared comparative tables of all seams divided in two groups: lower and upper seams in the holes 364, 365, 366, 368, 369, 370, 371 and 372. Due to the specification, the minimumm content of ash content in coal for use in the market, were pre-defined three of ash 35, 42 and 48%. To achive the proposed objective, was calculated for all seams in the holes previously mentioned, its concentrate and their waste. Was also calculated for each seams theoretical mass recovery ash content, calculate the weighted average fractions -25,4 +2,0 mm and -2,0 +0,1 mm respectively. The fine fraction of -0,1 mm was considered for disposal. Also were prepared flowcharts of processing for all seams of coal holes mentioned above, as well as their respective average curves blending. No statiscal methods were used for this study, neithet the higher recovery prediction curves using tromp or error, starting from the average curves were prepared in blends of lower and upper seams including the discontinue seam.

Thesis (MBA) --University of Limpopo, 2011 / Socio-economic development of the communities around the mines is enhanced through effective mining beneficiation. The aim of this study was to provide an analysis of the perceptions of the Amandelbult mine and the community of Schilpadnest informal settlement, in relation to the mining beneficiation provided to this community by the mine. The study analysed the perceptions related to employment creation, corporate social investment, as well as the communication and collaboration of the mine with the local community and other sectors. This study used the census as a sampling method. A questionnaire, with a combination of closed and open ended questions, was used to collect data. The members of community structures within the Schilpadnest as well as the mine management were the target population for the study. The results indicated that the beneficiation role of the mine in terms of the socio-economic development of the community is perceived to be inadequate in terms of employing local people and supporting the local SMMEs. Lack of required skills and communication are perceived to be the possible hindrances to beneficiation opportunities. The study recommends that: · The mine should consider setting a particular target for employing people. · A communication strategy for interacting with the local community be developed by the mine. · A comprehensive needs analysis for the local community be developed by the mine. · The mine should consider developing a database for the local SMMEs for the purposes of procurement and skills development.

Abstract Screen modelling has traditionally been based on rudimentary empirical ‘factor’ methods, or semi-empirical data-fitting techniques. Both of these methods have significant limitations in practice, and industrial screen optimization remains somewhat of a ‘black art’. This thesis introduces the concept of dimensional analysis and scale model similitude to the problem of modelling vibrating screens. This leads to a new method of modelling industrial screens. A small-scale screen can be built at a more convenient scale in the laboratory, and used to predict the performance of a large industrial scale machine. Verification of the scaling theory is based on three separate methods: 1. Firstly, the scaling theory is developed by analysing particle-level forces acting in a dry granular system. It is shown that scale-up of granular systems can be achieved using Froude scaling: that is, if the geometry and operating variables in an experiment are scaled in a pre-defined manner, the behaviour of the particles in the full-scale can be predicted from the behaviour of the particles at the smaller scale. 2. Secondly, the scaling rules are applied to a number of idealized granular systems using numerical simulations via the discrete element method (DEM). The granular systems modelled include inclined vibrating feeders and inclined vibrating screens. It is found that simulations performed at different scales yield almost identical dimensionless responses when the geometry and operating conditions are scaled according to Froude scaling rules. 3. Thirdly, the scaling rules are applied to modelling physical screening data. A dataset obtained from a larger pilot-scale screen in a thesis by R. De Pretto (1992) is reproduced at a smaller scale in this thesis using a purpose-built laboratory-scale screen. The throughput, efficiency curves and cut size are shown to be predictable at all feed rates, despite the former dataset being based on a screen with a feed sample size of around 5000 kg per test and the latter dataset obtained using a feed sample size of less than 30 kg per test. The thesis also touches on modelling the screening efficiency curves. A fully dimensionless version of the proven and familiar Whiten screen model is proposed. Scale-up and modelling of industrial screens M. M. Hilden viii Finally, some of the further possibilities of this theory are discussed briefly in a section on further work; these include further applications of the Screening Physical Model and the application of Froude scaling to the modelling of other granular systems.

No description available.

No description available.

The role of mathematical models and simulators in describing the performance of mineral processing applications have had a large impact in optimising existing industrial plants and designing new plants over recent years. Before the development of sophisticated computer simulators, the design engineer used industrial “rules of thumb” to estimate the size and layout of plants. However, newly designed plants after commissioning, often do not meet the design product specification requirements and quite often years of “trial and error” optimisation is required. This process can be very costly especially with froth flotation processes where the complexity of the various stages of treatment makes “trial and error” optimisation very difficult to quantify and assess the benefits. Over the past 10 years, advances in the modelling of the flotation process have been conducted by many authors. The most significant flotation modelling advances in recent years have been provided by the AMIRA (Australian Mineral Industry Research Association) P9 project, whereby a new modelling methodology has been proposed. Within this methodology, the flotation response can be represented by a number of sub-processes including parameters describing the hydrodynamic, froth and ore characteristics. Although these parameters have been proposed, methods for measuring these parameters in large flotation cells are still developing, especially in the areas of the froth zone recovery and entrainment. In the light of this it was felt that the literature on froth recovery determination should be investigated to determine the most appropriate method for measuring froth recovery in large industrial flotation cells. It was found after the investigation of the literature that three techniques for measuring the froth recovery parameter stood out as potential methods for measurement within a large scale flotation cell. These were the methods decribed by Gorain et al (1998), Vera et al (1999) and Savassi et al (1997). It was decided that all three methods should be assessed on a quantitative and qualitative basis from data collected at the Mount Isa Mines (now Xstrata) Copper flotation circuit. In this assessment, all three methods were extensively trialed in a 2.8 m3 flotation cell which was operated in parallel to the main copper rougher flotation circuit. The cell could be operated at numerous operating conditions which allowed sufficient data to be collected. The conclusions from this work were that although the method proposed by Vera et al (1999) required significant amounts of data, the method appeared to be reliable in this scale of cell. The main recommendation from this work was to further test the Vera methodology in larger industrial flotation cells. A 100 m3 Outukumpu tank cell at the Mount Keith Nickel Concentrator was chosen for the further assessment of the Vera et al (1999) methodology and its applicability to large scale cells. This flotation cell was one of the largest flotation cells operating on a production scale at the time of the testwork. Numerous tests were conducted and data collected from this investigation showed that the Vera et al (1999) technique was applicable to this scale of flotation cell. Since the work at Mount Keith was conducted in a rougher flotation cell, it was decided to test the methodology with numerous cells of various sizes and duties at the Kambalda Nickel Concentrator. As with the previous investigation at Mount Keith, it was observed that the Vera method was able to measure froth recoveries in all cells measured at Kambalda (within typical operating ranges). However, the technique was not applicable at shallow froth depths since it does not take into account the effect of the pulp-froth interface within the froth recovery parameter estimation. The pulp froth interface and close to it is where a significant proportion of dropback occurs within the froth zone. In addition to this problem, the methodology required large numbers of samples and disturbed downstream processes which made the technique unpractical for operating industrial flotation plants. Hence, a new technique for measuring froth recovery in large flotation cells was required. For the technique to be successful on an industrial scale it required the following: • minimum disturbance on the process, • take into account the pulp froth interface within the froth recovery parameter, and • require a minimum amount of samples. To meet these needs a new technique was developed based on the Savassi et al (1997) technique and combining it with recent work by authors including Vera et al (2003). The methodology involves taking samples of the feed, concentrate and tail as per a typical flotation survey and combining them with two new samples: the air hold-up sample and the top of froth sample. With the addition of these samples, a mass balance across the pulp and froth phase could be conducted and the froth recovery parameter derived. In addition, the new method provided measurements of the pulp zone average bubble load and the amount recovered by the entrainment mechanism. The proposed method has a simple procedure which allows the technique to be used by academics and mill operators alike. The proposed froth recovery measurement technique was tested in numerous cells of various types (i.e. Wemco, Outokumpu, Dorr-Oliver etc), various sizes (up to 150 m3 in size), various duties (rougher, scavenger, cleaner, recleaner, etc) and various plants. In most cases the methodology proved to be a reliable measure of the froth recovery parameter. In addition, at the Century Zinc Operation, the methodology was compared directly with the original Vera et al (1999) technique and the results showed that there was a good comparison between the results with the off-set of the pulp-froth interface. A number of contributions to both the research and industrial areas have been provided from the outcomes of the thesis. The main contributions include: • A full assessment of the three current methods for measuring the froth recovery parameter within large flotation cells. With recommendations of developing a new technique. • The development of a froth recovery measurement technique which can be used in large cells to understand the impact of the froth zone in an individual cell, use within the AMIRA P9 modelling methodology and plant diagnostics. • The new method also allows the estimation of the average bubble load and quantifies the amount of material recovered by the entrainment mechanism which is invaluable to metallurgists in assessing the performance of a flotation circuit (plant diagnostics). Finally, the results of this thesis will provide practising metallurgists both within the research and operating fields, techniques to improve the profitability of flotation circuits worldwide. Metallurgists can quickly assess the performance of large flotation cells in terms of froth performance, bubble load and entrainment which has not been available before. In addition, the results from this thesis will also allow metallurgists to mathematically represent their plant through flotation models better and improve their understanding of their flotation circuits.

The role of mathematical models and simulators in describing the performance of mineral processing applications have had a large impact in optimising existing industrial plants and designing new plants over recent years. Before the development of sophisticated computer simulators, the design engineer used industrial “rules of thumb” to estimate the size and layout of plants. However, newly designed plants after commissioning, often do not meet the design product specification requirements and quite often years of “trial and error” optimisation is required. This process can be very costly especially with froth flotation processes where the complexity of the various stages of treatment makes “trial and error” optimisation very difficult to quantify and assess the benefits. Over the past 10 years, advances in the modelling of the flotation process have been conducted by many authors. The most significant flotation modelling advances in recent years have been provided by the AMIRA (Australian Mineral Industry Research Association) P9 project, whereby a new modelling methodology has been proposed. Within this methodology, the flotation response can be represented by a number of sub-processes including parameters describing the hydrodynamic, froth and ore characteristics. Although these parameters have been proposed, methods for measuring these parameters in large flotation cells are still developing, especially in the areas of the froth zone recovery and entrainment. In the light of this it was felt that the literature on froth recovery determination should be investigated to determine the most appropriate method for measuring froth recovery in large industrial flotation cells. It was found after the investigation of the literature that three techniques for measuring the froth recovery parameter stood out as potential methods for measurement within a large scale flotation cell. These were the methods decribed by Gorain et al (1998), Vera et al (1999) and Savassi et al (1997). It was decided that all three methods should be assessed on a quantitative and qualitative basis from data collected at the Mount Isa Mines (now Xstrata) Copper flotation circuit. In this assessment, all three methods were extensively trialed in a 2.8 m3 flotation cell which was operated in parallel to the main copper rougher flotation circuit. The cell could be operated at numerous operating conditions which allowed sufficient data to be collected. The conclusions from this work were that although the method proposed by Vera et al (1999) required significant amounts of data, the method appeared to be reliable in this scale of cell. The main recommendation from this work was to further test the Vera methodology in larger industrial flotation cells. A 100 m3 Outukumpu tank cell at the Mount Keith Nickel Concentrator was chosen for the further assessment of the Vera et al (1999) methodology and its applicability to large scale cells. This flotation cell was one of the largest flotation cells operating on a production scale at the time of the testwork. Numerous tests were conducted and data collected from this investigation showed that the Vera et al (1999) technique was applicable to this scale of flotation cell. Since the work at Mount Keith was conducted in a rougher flotation cell, it was decided to test the methodology with numerous cells of various sizes and duties at the Kambalda Nickel Concentrator. As with the previous investigation at Mount Keith, it was observed that the Vera method was able to measure froth recoveries in all cells measured at Kambalda (within typical operating ranges). However, the technique was not applicable at shallow froth depths since it does not take into account the effect of the pulp-froth interface within the froth recovery parameter estimation. The pulp froth interface and close to it is where a significant proportion of dropback occurs within the froth zone. In addition to this problem, the methodology required large numbers of samples and disturbed downstream processes which made the technique unpractical for operating industrial flotation plants. Hence, a new technique for measuring froth recovery in large flotation cells was required. For the technique to be successful on an industrial scale it required the following: • minimum disturbance on the process, • take into account the pulp froth interface within the froth recovery parameter, and • require a minimum amount of samples. To meet these needs a new technique was developed based on the Savassi et al (1997) technique and combining it with recent work by authors including Vera et al (2003). The methodology involves taking samples of the feed, concentrate and tail as per a typical flotation survey and combining them with two new samples: the air hold-up sample and the top of froth sample. With the addition of these samples, a mass balance across the pulp and froth phase could be conducted and the froth recovery parameter derived. In addition, the new method provided measurements of the pulp zone average bubble load and the amount recovered by the entrainment mechanism. The proposed method has a simple procedure which allows the technique to be used by academics and mill operators alike. The proposed froth recovery measurement technique was tested in numerous cells of various types (i.e. Wemco, Outokumpu, Dorr-Oliver etc), various sizes (up to 150 m3 in size), various duties (rougher, scavenger, cleaner, recleaner, etc) and various plants. In most cases the methodology proved to be a reliable measure of the froth recovery parameter. In addition, at the Century Zinc Operation, the methodology was compared directly with the original Vera et al (1999) technique and the results showed that there was a good comparison between the results with the off-set of the pulp-froth interface. A number of contributions to both the research and industrial areas have been provided from the outcomes of the thesis. The main contributions include: • A full assessment of the three current methods for measuring the froth recovery parameter within large flotation cells. With recommendations of developing a new technique. • The development of a froth recovery measurement technique which can be used in large cells to understand the impact of the froth zone in an individual cell, use within the AMIRA P9 modelling methodology and plant diagnostics. • The new method also allows the estimation of the average bubble load and quantifies the amount of material recovered by the entrainment mechanism which is invaluable to metallurgists in assessing the performance of a flotation circuit (plant diagnostics). Finally, the results of this thesis will provide practising metallurgists both within the research and operating fields, techniques to improve the profitability of flotation circuits worldwide. Metallurgists can quickly assess the performance of large flotation cells in terms of froth performance, bubble load and entrainment which has not been available before. In addition, the results from this thesis will also allow metallurgists to mathematically represent their plant through flotation models better and improve their understanding of their flotation circuits.