On the Use of Photometric Separation for the Processing of Techno-Genic Raw Materials

Abstract

This work presents studies on the material composition and physico-mechanical characteristics of an alumina-containing estimate formed during the production of aluminum on electrolyzers with self-baking anodes during technological operations. The material is a mixture of fine powder 2.5 mm in size (62.78% on average mass) with the presence of pieces of material ranging in size from 0.5 to 6 cm (average 20.26% by weight). The samples contain pieces of hardened aluminum with sizes from 5 to 20 mm (16.96%). The largest content in the sample has the fineness classes-0.315 + 0.16 mm in the volume of 29.85% and the largest class +2.5 mm-37.22%. B It was established that aluminum is concentrated in the fractions-0.315 + 0.16 mm (45.7%) and 0.16 + 0 mm (48.8%), silicon in the fraction-0.63 + 0.315 mm (1.91%), iron at-1.25 + 0.63 mm (0.601%) and-0.63 + 0.315 mm (0.62%). The material consists of cryolite (Na3AlF6), chiolite (Al3F14Na5), quartz, feldspar, carbonaceous matter and the technogenic phase of the composition (NaF) 1.5CaF2 AlF3. The material is characterized as non-abrasive (working index Ai - 0.0184) and very soft in relation to impact crushing (working index CWi - 3.64), the working index of ball grinding Bond (BWi - 6.47) characterizes a very low resistance to ball grinding. The implementation of the crushing operation of an alumina-containing estimate will allow the use of dry cascade-gravity and centrifugal classification to separate impurities in the form of SiO2, and Fe2O3 for the use of alumina-containing material in primary aluminum technology. On the basis of laboratory tests, it is established that alumina-containing raw materials can be separated and photometric and gravitational separation methods can be used. A mathematical model of the motion of particles of primary and prepared alumina-containing raw materials in a cascade-gravity classifier was developed. The criteria and factors characterizing the alumina-containing material, as well as influencing and determining the maximum material enrichment, are established.