Rheology and the Minerals Industry

Abstract

The paper reviews the importance of rheology in the minerals processing industry, where particulate fluids at high concentrations are often encountered. Particulate fluid suspensions are classified into settling and non-settling suspensions, with the review being concerned primarily with non-settling particulate fluid suspensions. Basic flow property measurement techniques are reviewed in brief with some details being presented on the potential for use of a capillary rheometer for high concentration mineral suspension systems. The yield stress is of particular importance in the industry and thus methods for measurement have been reviewed where the vane technique is the recommended device. An importance aspect often neglected by the industry itself is the importance of surface chemistry on the flow characteristics of mineral suspensions. This is particularly true for colloidal particle systems. Some examples are given, highlighting how important an understanding of colloidal chemistry is, and how knowledge of basic surface chemistry can be exploited in the processing of mineral suspension systems.

The paper concludes with an example of where rheology and its understanding has been used for effective waste minimisation in the minerals processing industry. Here is it shown how handling mineral suspensions at high concentrations can very effectively reduce or minimise the waste being produced in many mineral processes.

Keywords:

• Rheology
• mineral processing
• particulate fluids
• colloidal suspensions

Additional information

Notes on contributors

D.V. BOGER

[email protected]