1991_ExitExam_Pt-2.doc.docVIP

EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY I ATTEMPT 1 OR 2 (OPEN NOTES) 1. (a) The discharge of a ball mill is fed into a classifier at a rate of 600 tph containing 70 wt% solids. Upon addition to the classifier, additional water is added at a rate of 100 tph. What is the resulting pulp density, in grams per cm3 pulp? The density of solid is 2.5 g/cm3. Also calculate the volume fraction of solids in the pulp. (b) Colloidal scheelite (CaWO4: pzc=pCa 5.0) and hematite (Fe2O3: pzc=pH 6) are fully suspended in a solution which is at 25°C. The solution contains 10-4 M CaCl2 and the pH of the solution is 4. (i) Calculate the surface potentials and the thicknesses of the electrical double layer of these oxides. (ii) Estimate the potential at 10-6 cm away from the scheelite/water interface. (iii) If the zeta potential of scheelite particles is 20 mV, calculate the mobility of these particles of one micron radius in cm2/volt.s. (iv) Suggest a way of separating scheelite from hematite by froth flotation. 2. An ore consisting of 1% by wt of chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), 5% pyrite (FeS2) and 94% silica (SiO2) is to be processed first to separate the individual minerals but eventually to extract copper. The separation process will include crushing, grinding, screening, physical and chemical treatment. The ore is to be treated at a rate of 30,000 tons per year. i. Draw a flow sheet which should include the above mentioned processes. Important physical and chemical conditions and features of each unit operation should be listed. (For example, the size of units and particles, physical properties of minerals relevant to that process and physical and chemical conditions in which the process must operate.) ii. Chalcopyrite will be up-graded by froth flotation. Specify the conditions necessary to achieve this up-grading process, in particular, reference to removal of pyrite. iii. Chalcopyrite is subjected to acid leaching. Explain, using thermodynamic principles, how one co