Magnetic Separation in Mineral Processing

01Commonly used equipment in magnetic separation process

Magnetic separation in mineral processing typically uses various types of magnetic separators. The most commonly used magnetic separators include drum magnetic separators, belt magnetic separators and magnetic drums. These magnetic separators contain magnetic materials or magnetized elements that create a magnetic field that attracts magnetic minerals and separates them from non-magnetic minerals.

Drum magnetic separator: Drum magnetic separator is a common magnetic separation equipment. It consists of a rotating magnetic drum and a fixed magnetic pole system. The ore enters the magnetic field area through the roller. The magnetic minerals are attracted to the surface of the roller by the magnetic force, while the non-magnetic minerals pass through the roller without being affected.

Belt magnetic separator: Belt magnetic separator achieves magnetic separation of ores by arranging magnetic materials or magnetic poles on the conveyor belt. The ore is transported to the magnetic field area, and the magnetic minerals are attracted to the belt, while the non-magnetic minerals continue to move along the conveyor belt.

Magnetic drum: The magnetic drum is a simple magnetic separation equipment commonly used for magnetic separation of ores on conveyor belts. The magnetic roller is installed at the end of the conveyor belt to absorb and separate magnetic minerals from the ore through magnetic force.

High gradient magnetic separator: High gradient magnetic separator is an efficient magnetic separation equipment used to process fine-grained and highly magnetic ores. It combines physical magnetic separation and chemical reaction to achieve selective separation of ores through changes in magnetic field gradient.

Magnetic separation column: A magnetic separation column is a columnar device composed of ion exchange resin and magnetic fillers. It can be used for selective adsorption and separation of magnetic minerals in solution.

These equipment are widely used in mineral processing, and the appropriate equipment can be selected according to the characteristics of the ore, processing requirements and scale. At the same time, the selection of equipment is also affected by economic benefits, operability and environmental factors.

02Magnetic separation process flow

The magnetic separation process in mineral processing usually includes the following steps:

a. Crushing and grinding: crushing and grinding the ore to the appropriate particle size to achieve effective separation. The goal is to dissociate valuable magnetic minerals from gangue minerals.

b. Magnetic separation: The crushed and ground ore is processed through a magnetic separator. Magnetic separators can be wet or dry. In wet magnetic separation, water is added to create a slurry, and then the ore particles are placed in a magnetic field so that magnetic minerals are adsorbed to the magnetic surface or matrix of the magnetic separator, while non-magnetic minerals pass through the magnetic separator without being affected. In dry magnetic separation, the ore is subjected to a magnetic field in a dry state, and the magnetic minerals are adsorbed and separated, while the non-magnetic minerals remain unaffected.

c. Concentration and beneficiation: The magnetic concentrate obtained from the separation step may still contain impurities. Further concentration and beneficiation steps such as regrinding and reseparation can be performed to improve the purity and quality of the magnetic concentrate.

Magnetic separation is widely used in a variety of mineral processing applications, including the separation of iron ore, ilmenite, magnetite, chromite and other magnetic minerals from non-magnetic gangue minerals. It is a versatile and efficient technology that improves the quality and value of mineral products.

03Magnetic separation technology application

Magnetic separation has many applications in mineral processing, including:

1. Purification of iron ore: Magnetic separation is often used to purify iron ore. Since iron ore usually contains magnetic minerals, such as magnetite (magnetite), hematite and black titanium, magnetic separation can separate these magnetic minerals from non-magnetic impurities, thereby improving the grade and recovery of iron ore Rate.

2. Separation of ilmenite: Ilmenite usually contains magnetic magnetite and non-magnetic titanite. Through magnetic separation, magnetic magnetite and non-magnetic titanium can be effectively separated to improve the grade and separation of ilmenite.

3. Recovery of magnetic minerals: In some ores, there are magnetic minerals with commercial value, such as magnetite, magnetic hematite and certain rare earth minerals. Magnetic separation can separate these magnetic minerals from ores to achieve their recovery and utilization.

4. Removal of magnetic minerals: In some ores, magnetic minerals may be undesirable impurities. Through magnetic separation, these magnetic impurities can be separated to improve the grade and quality of the ore.

5. Concentrates of magnetic minerals: In some ore processing processes, magnetic minerals can be recovered and separated as valuable concentrates. Magnetic separation can concentrate magnetic minerals to improve their grade and purity.

Magnetic separation has a wide range of applications and is suitable for many mineral processing processes. It is an efficient and reliable technology that can realize the purification, separation and recovery of ores and improve the utilization efficiency and value of mineral resources. The specific magnetic separation process design should be designed based on the characteristics of the ore itself and the mineral processing test results to improve the mineral processing effect and economic benefits.