Rudarski radovi br 4 2011 - Institut za rudarstvo i metalurgiju Bor

The slag, obtained by treatment of<br />
non-ferrous metals, is mainly slag from<br />
copper production. The main components<br />
of slag, obtained from the copper metallurgy,<br />
are Fe and SiO2. Copper content, in<br />
almost all slag of copper metallurgical<br />
treatment, is in the range of 0.5 to 4.0%,<br />
what is considerably more than copper<br />
content in the ore deposits of copper,<br />
which is now exploited. The slag, obtained<br />
by metallurgical copper treatment,<br />
usually with different methods of preparation<br />
and concentration, are treated for reobtaining<br />
of copper.<br />
In recent decades, an increasing importance<br />
is given to the processing of secondary<br />
raw materials in order to increase a<br />
recovery degree of useful component -<br />
copper. Practice has shown that the secondary<br />
materials are different from primary<br />
raw materials, ores, in terms of mineralogical<br />
physic-chemical and mechanical<br />
characteristics. Previous world investigations<br />
in the field of processing the mineral<br />
raw materials, are based on an investigation<br />
of primary processing of raw materials<br />
(ores). Therefore, all results, theories<br />
and findings obtained by investigation the<br />
primary raw materials, cannot be fully<br />
accepted and applied in the processing of<br />
secondary raw materials.<br />
Balance reserves of solid mineral deposits<br />
are deposit parts that can be profitably<br />
mined by the existing techniques and<br />
technology.<br />
Balance of reserves is determined by<br />
prescribed techno-economic analysis.<br />
It is necessary to adopt previously the<br />
appropriate criteria for determining the<br />
balance of reserves, i.e. to adopt the limit<br />
values of some natural indicators, which<br />
relate to the quality of mineral resource<br />
and mining-technical conditions of exploitation.<br />
Smelter slag from the process of metallurgical<br />
treatment of concentrate is quite<br />
different from primary raw materials on<br />
its mineralogical, physical - chemical and<br />
mechanical properties. The behavior of<br />
smelter slag in the processes of crushing,<br />
grinding and flotation, is different from<br />
behavior of minerals that are the basis for<br />
obtaining the rich copper concentrate.<br />
Characteristics of smelter slag, as well as<br />
the specific weight and hardness, have<br />
influence to the process of ore processing<br />
that cannot be applied without any<br />
changes in processing of smelter slag (1).<br />
Differences in physical-chemical and mechanical<br />
properties of primary raw materials,<br />
ore and secondary raw materials,<br />
smelter slag, have imposed the need for<br />
basic research, in order to introduce the<br />
behavior of smelter slag in the processing<br />
and possibility of process optimization<br />
due to improve the technological results<br />
and reduce the treatment costs.<br />
2. SLAG GRANULATION<br />
Smelter slag from the sites of RTB, is<br />
processed in the flotation plant which is<br />
designed for ore processing, and which is<br />
only adapted to the conditions of slag<br />
processing. Regarding to this, there are a<br />
number of difficulties which are reflected<br />
through high power consumption and<br />
poorer technological results of some similar<br />
plants in the world. Previous studies<br />
regarding to a degree of fragmentation,<br />
have showed that coarseness of grain-size<br />
distribution of inlet into rod mill can be<br />
lowered by granulation process(2) which<br />
is actually a simple and inexpensive process<br />
and which can be used for avoiding<br />
the technological process of three-stage<br />
crushing and sieving. During granulation,<br />
a significant amount of thermal energy is<br />
submitted to water, which can be used for<br />
various purposes. Granulation process has<br />
yet to be studied, to examine the influence<br />
of granulation and granulation method<br />
conducting on technological parameters of<br />
flotation concentration. For the aim of<br />
No 4, 2011. 100<br />
MINING ENGINEERING