A Proposition of Symbolism of Non-Ideal Separations Followed by Analytical Procedures for Description of Separation Processes

Abstract

A notation system is proposed to characterize separation systems. Four elements were taken into account: quantity and quality of separation products, component type in the products and feed, as well as the value of feature utilized for separation. The proposed symbolism consists of two parts. The first part describes separation procedure while the second one describes the way separation results are analyzed and presented. For instance, symbol 3[F_n,5P_i,2Xe||UP(Σϵ_FPjXek |Σγ_FPj )_{(j = 1 … 5, k=Cu)}V₄]2 indicates that three identical feeds (F) were separated twice (2) non-ideally (n) into five (j = 1.5) products (P), which were further separated ideally (i) into two (k = 1 … 2) chemical components (Xe) (for instance, Cu and remaining elements). The results of separation were analyzed as cumulative recovery Σϵ of Cu in products versus cumulative yield Σγ of products at four levels of operational variables (V₄). It also means that each sample was investigated six times for reproducibility. The analysis was based on comparing yield (quantity parameter) and recovery (quality parameter), and was named upgrading (UP). Other parameters that can be considered are component type and value of feature used for separation, and all four provide six ways of analyzing separation systems named classification, sorting, splitting, distribution, and description. The proposed system in this paper is symbolic representation of separation procedure and the way of evaluation separation results is based on an easy-to-write sequence of signs helping a quick and precise understanding of the considered separation system. The proposed symbolism can be useful in applications such as computer programs and algorithms, fast communication, and education on existence of other options of separation delineation.

Keywords:

• mineral processing
• notation
• separation
• symbolism
• upgrading

Notes

Meaning of symbols. Quantity (yield): γ _j ; quality (recovery): ϵ _jk ; type (product type or name): t; fraction: f _jk .