Microwave Enhanced Recovery of Nickel-Copper Ore: communition and floatability aspects

摘要

A study describing the effect of microwave radiation, at a frequency of 2,450 MHz, on the processes of communition and flotation of a complex sulphide nickel-copper ore is presented. Ore communition has been investigated under standard radiation-free conditions and after ore treatment in a radiated environment as a function of ore size, exposure time to radiation, and microwave power. The findings show that communition is tremendously improved by microwave radiation with values of the relative work index as low as 23% at a microwave power of 1.406 kW and after 10 s of exposure time. Communition is affected by exposure time and microwave power in a nontrivial manner. In terms of ore floatability, the experimental tests have been carried out on a sample of 75 μm in size under different exposure times. The results show that both ore concentrate recoveries and grades of nickel and copper are significantly enhanced after microwave treatment of the ore with relative increases in recovered concentrate, grade of nickel, and grade of copper of 26 wt%, 15 wt%, and 27%, respectively, at a microwave power of 1,330 kW and after 30 s of exposure time.