Summary: Ukwelashwa kwemali yezimbiwa zensimbi kuyisinyathelo esibalulekile embonini yemboni yezimayini, okuhloswe ngakho ukuhlukanisa izimbiwa zensimbi ezifanele ngokwemvelo yomzimba noma ngokwezamubalaleli zazo. ...

Ukuhlanzwa kwezinsimbi zensimbi kuwumgomo obalulekile embonini yokumba, ehlose ukuhlukanisa izinsimbi eziyigugu ezivela ku-gangue ngokuya ngezimpawu zabo zomzimba noma ze-khemikhali. Izindlela eziyisisekelo zokuhlanzwa zingahlukaniswa ngezigaba ezintathu: ukuhlanzwa kwezomzimba, ukuhlanzwa kwekhemikhali, nokuhlanzwa kwe-bio. Phakathi kwalezi, ukuhlanzwa kwezomzimba kusekelwe kakhulu ngenxa yokuba nezindleko eziphansi nokuhlobana kahle nemvelo. Ukukhethwa kwendlela efanele yokuhlanzwa kuncike kakhulu ezimfanelweni zezinsimbi ezihlosiwe, njengokukhanya kwemagnethi, ubukhulu, kanye nomswakama ohlanzekile.

Metal Ore Beneficiation Methods

1. Physical Beneficiation: Isixazululo Esibizi Okuphansi Sokusebenza Kwezimboni Ezibanzi

Ukuthuthukiswa komzimba kuhlukanisa amaminerali ngaphandle kokushintsha ukwakheka kwawo kwemikhakha, kusekelwe kuphela kumahluko ezimfanelo zomzimba. Le ndlela ifanelekile kumaminerali wensimbi akhululekile kalula. Izindlela eziyisisekelo zokuthuthukiswa komzimba zimi kanje:

1.1 Ukuhlukaniswa Kwamagnetic: Ukubuyiselwa Kwadabuliwe Kwezimbiwa Ezihambayo

  • Isimiso Esiyisisekelo: Utiliza umehluko kumagnetism yamaminerali (isb., i-magnetite ikhangwa emkhakheni wamagnetic, kanti amaminerali e-gangue awakhethi) ukuhlukanisa amaminerali e-magnetic nawawungamagnetic.
  • Metali Ezisebenzisekayo: Ikakhulu insimbi, manganisi, kanye nemaminerali e-chromium. Kuphawuleka kakhulu kuma-magnetite (okwakha amandla amakhulu) kanye ne-pyrrhotite (okwakha amandla aphansi). Futhi kusetshenziselwa ukususa impure ye-insimbi kumaminerali angenamathe njenge-quartz sand.
  • Izicelo Eziyinhloko:
    • Izitshalo zokuthuthukiswa kwe-iron ore zisebenzisa ukuhlanganiswa komugqa we-magnetic separation wokuqeda, ukuhlanza, nokuhudula ukuze kuthuthukiswe okuqukethwe kwe-insimbi kusuka ku-25%-30% kuya phezulu kuka-65%.
    • Iziminerali ezinamandla aphansi njenge-hematite ziqala zibhakabhakwe ukuze ziguqulwe zibe yi-magnetite ngaphambi kokuhlukaniswa kwe-magnetic.
  • Advantages: Ukungcoliswa okuphansi, ukusetshenziswa kwamandla okuphansi, kanye nemsebenzi enkulu yokucubungula (abahlukanisi abanye bemagneti bangaphatha ithoni eziyizinkulungwane ngosuku).
Magnetic Separation

1.2 Flotation: “Hydrophobic-Hydrophilic” Separation of Fine Valuable Minerals

  • Isimiso Esiyisisekelo: Izinto (abalawuli kanye nabamphuli) zengezwa ukuze zenze insimbi efanele ibe hydrophobic. Lezi zinsalela zixhumana namabhakede omoya bese ziqhubeka ziya phezulu njengefroth, ngenkathi imayini engafanele ihlala kuphulp.
  • Izinsimbi Ezisebenzisekayo: Ishubhu, i-lead, i-zinc, i-molybdenum, igolide, i-siliva, nezinye izinsimbi ezinobukhulu obuncane (njalo <0.1 mm). Ilungele ukwahlukanisa izimbiwa eziyinkimbinkimbi ezinepolymetallic (isb., ukukhipha izimbiwa ezinezinyathelo ngokwehla kwe-flotation yezezimbiwa ze-copper-lead-zinc).
  • Izicelo Eziyinhloko:
    • Inqubo ejwayelekile yomgodi wegolide le-Copper: ukuvunguza kokuphuma kwe-sulfide copper kuthuthukisa igolide kusuka ku-0.3%-0.5% Cu kuya ku-20%-25% yekhopha lebhodi le-copper.
    • Ukubuyiswa kwegolide okuncedisayo: Ukuze kugolide okukahle ukusabalala, ukugaya kuqala kukuqokelela ku-concentrate ye-sulfide, kunciphisa ukusetshenziswa kwe-cyanide ekulandeleni kwenqubo ye-cyanidation.
  • Advantages: Ukwehlukaniswa okuphezulu kahle (amarekhodi okuphumelela angaphezulu kuka-90%), kuyasebenza kuma-ore aphezulu aphezulu.
  • Disadvantages: Ukusetshenziswa kwemithi yokwenza izinqubo kudinga ukwelashwa kwemfucumfucu.
Flotation Machine

1.3 Ukuhlukaniswa Ngezinto: Ukwenza ngokusebenzisa Ukuhluka Kwesisindo Ukuze Kutholakale Izinsimbi Ezinkulu Ezinsizweni Ezisindayo

  • Isimiso Esiyisisekelo: Ukuhlukaniswa kokwehla kusebenzisa umehluko wezimpilo phakathi kwezinsimbi ezinzima nezinsimbi ez lighter emkhakheni wokudonsa kwegravitation noma i-centrifugal.
  • Izinsimbi Ezisebenzisekayo: Gold (placer kanye lode ukubunjwa okukhulu), tungsten, tin, antimony, ikakhulukazi ukubunjwa okukhulu okukhulu kune 0.074 mm.
  • Izicelo Eziyinhloko:
    • Ukumba igolide lePlacer kusebenzisa izipele nezitolo zokuxhumana ukuze kutholakale igolide lemvelo ngenani lokubuyisa elingaphezu kuka-95%.
    • Amaminerali e-tungsten kanye ne-tin adlula ekwehleni kwemithwalo njengendlela yokususa ukulahla u-70%-80% we-gangue enedensity encane ngaphambi kokuhudula.
  • Advantages: Akunampilo ye-chemicals, izindleko ezisezingeni eliphansi, nemishini elula.
  • Disadvantages: Ukubuyiswa okuphansi kwemikhono emincane kanye namaminerali anama-density amancane alinganayo.
Gravity Separation

1.4 Ukuhlukaniswa Kwe-Electrostatic: Ukusebenzisa Umehluko Wokuxhumana Kwezimetal Zokugcina.

  • Isimiso Esiyisisekelo: Iziphuzo zezimboni zihlukaniswa ngokuhlukahluka kokuhamba kwezimali (isb., izimboni ze-metal zisebenza, ezingeni ezingenakuthola azisebenzisi) endaweni ye-high-voltage, lapho izimboni ezihambayo zithakazeliswa noma zikhutshwa ngama-electrode.
  • Izinsimbi Ezisebenzisekayo: Imvamisa isetshenziswa ukuhlukanisa izimboni zezimetal ezitholakala kanzima njenge-titanium, zirconium, tantalum, kanye ne-niobium, noma ukuze kucwebezwe ama-concentrate (isb., ukususa i-gangue engahambile ku-copper/lead/zinc concentrates).
  • Izicelo Eziyinhloko:
    • Ukuhlukaniswa kwe-titanium kumsandulela wemithi: E-Hainan, ukuhlukaniswa kwe-electrostatic kuhlukanisa i-ilmenite ehambayo kwi-quartz engahambile.
    • Ukucacisa kokugxila: Ukukhipha i-quartz engahambeli kahle ku-tungsten concentrate ukuze kuthuthukiswe i-gradi yayo.
  • Advantages: Ukwehlukaniswa okunembile okuphezulu, akukho zinsalela zamakhemikhali.
  • Disadvantages: Ubucayi emanzini (badinga ukuf drying), ukusebenza okuphansi, ivamise ukusetshenziswa kuphela njengesinyathelo sokuhlanza.

2. Chemical Beneficiation: The “Last Resort” for Difficult Ores

Lapho imichiza yensimbi ihlukaniswe kahle noma ibotshiwe kakhulu ne-gangue (isb., ama-ore apholile, ama-sulfides ayinkimbinkimbi), izindlela zomzimba zingahle zingaphumeleli. Ukuthuthukiswa kwezemichiza kuhlukanisa izakhiwo zemichiza ukuze kukhishwe izinsimbi, ikakhulukazi nge:

2.1 Leaching: “Dissolution and Extraction” of Metal Ions

  • Isimiso Esiyisisekelo: I-ores igcwaliswa ezixubheni zamakhemikhali (i-asidi, i-alkali, noma izixazululo zetshe) ukuze ikhothe insimbi ephakanyiswe esixazululweni sokukhipha (PLS), lapho insimbi ibuyiswa khona (isb., ngokushintsha, i-cementation, noma i-electrowinning).
  • Izinsimbi Ezisebenzisekayo: Igolide (i-cyanidation), isiliva, i-copper (heap leaching), i-nickel, i-cobalt, kanye nezinye insimbi ezinzima.
  • Ukwenziwa Kocwaningo:
    • Gold Cyanidation: Finely ground ore is mixed with a cyanide solution; gold forms a soluble complex and is later precipitated with zinc powder (recovery ≥90%). Cyanide pollution must be strictly controlled.
    • Copper Heap Leaching: I-oxide copper ore enezinga eziphansi (0.2%-0.5% Cu) igcwele nge-sulfuric acid; u-copper uyanyamalala futhi ubuyiselwa nge-solvent extraction kanye ne-electrowinning (SX-EW) njengokuthi u-copper we-cathode (okonga izindleko ze-ore eziphansi).

2.2 I-Process ehlanganisa i-Roasting-Leaching

  • Isimiso Esiyisisekelo: Ore is first roasted at high temperatures (300-1000°C) to alter its structure (e.g., oxidizing or reducing roast), converting refractory metals into a soluble form for subsequent leaching.
  • Izinsimbi Ezisebenzisekayo: I-Refractory sulfides (isb., nickel sulfide, copper sulfide) kanye ne-oxide ores (isb., hematite).
  • Icwaninga lwezimo:
    • Nickel Sulfide Roasting: Guqula i-nickel sulfide ibe i-nickel oxide, elula ukuchitheka nge-sulfuric acid, evitando ukungenelela kwe-sulfide.
    • Refractory Gold Ore Roasting: Ukuze amaminerali aqukethe i-arsenic ne-carbon, ukushisa kususwa i-arsenic (edlula njenge As₂O₃) ne-carbon (engakwazi ukumunca igolide), kuvumela i-cyanidation elandelayo.

2.3 Microbial Beneficiation: Indlela Eco-Friendly Yokuthola Amaminerali Ahlukene

  • Principle: Certain microorganisms (e.g., Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans, Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans) metabolically oxidize metal sulfides into soluble metal salts, enabling metal recovery from solution—also known as bioleaching.
  • Izinsimbi Ezisebenzisekayo: Low-grade copper (e.g., porphyry copper), uranium, nickel, gold (njengoba usizo lokukhipha i-sulfur).
  • Advantages: Ukusebenza kwemvelo (akukho ukungcoliswa kwemakhemikhali), izindleko eziphansi (ama-microbes azikhiqiza), afanele ama-ore anikeza i-copper grading elingaphezu kuka 0.1%-0.3%.
  • Disadvantages: Izinga lokuphendula elibuthakathaka (amasonto kuya ezinyangeni), lithinteka kakhulu ekushiseni nasezimo zemvelo.
  • Izinhlelo Ezijwayelekile: U aproximadamente 20% wokukhiqizwa kwe-copper emhlabeni kuvela ku-bioleaching, njengokusebenza okuphezulu kwe-heap leach eChile.

3. I-3-Step Core Logic Yokukhetha Izindlela Zokwenza Inzuzo

3.1 Hlaziya Impahla Zezinto:

  • Magnetic minerals (e.g., magnetite) → Magnetic separation
  • Fine particles with hydrophobicity differences (e.g., copper ores) → Flotation
  • Coarse particles with high density (e.g., placer gold, tungsten) → Gravity separation

3.2 Bheka Ikhwalithi Yamaminerali Nokukhululwa:

  • High-grade coarse ores → Gravity or magnetic separation (low cost)
  • Low-grade fine ores → Flotation or leaching (high recovery)
  • Extremely refractory ores → Chemical or bio-beneficiation

3.3 Balansiwe Umnotho kanye Nezindleko Zemvelo:

  • Khetha ukwenziwa komkhiqizo ngokomzimba ukuze usebenze amandla aphansi futhi kube nokungcoliswa okuncane.
  • Sebenzisa izindlela zamakhemikhali noma ze-bio kuphela uma izindlela zomzimba zingasebenzi, ubala izindleko nomthelela kumvelo.