Signature Series - Professor Zhiyong Gao, Central South University (China)

Signature lecture: Physical and Chemical Effects of Grinding Media on Copper Mineral Flotation

Presenter: Professor | Vice Dean Zhiyong Gao, School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University (CSU), CHINA

Editor-in-Chief, Minerals Engineering

Member of the Academic Committee of Central South University

Watch it here:

Abstract:
Grinding is an essential unit operation to liberate target minerals for efficient separation, and it accounts for the highest energy and material consumption in mineral processing flowsheets. The operational conditions of grinding media, including media size, shape, proportion, material, and filling ratio, directly govern the particle size, morphology, and surface-chemical properties of ground products. These further determine the flotation separation performance of ground feeds, and ultimately dominate the technical and economic indicators of the whole concentrator.

Taking the re-grinding circuit of a large-scale domestic copper mine as the case study, this report systematically illustrates how grinding media shape modulates physical properties of ground products such as particle size, crystal-plane exposure and morphological parameters, as well as the principles and approaches for regulating pulp electrochemical properties via media material. Through synergistic physical-chemical modulation of grinding media, energy-saving and consumption-reduction in the grinding section and improvement of copper flotation recovery are achieved for this large-scale copper mine.

Biography:
Prof Zhiyong Gao received his Ph.D degree in Minerals Processing Engineering from Central South University (CSU), China in 2013, and has been a professor and vice dean in the School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering at CSU since 2019. His research interests embrace mineral crystal chemistry, flotation, grinding, waste treatment etc. He has published more than 100+ papers with a H index of 50 and 9000 citations (Google Scholar). He has received numerous awards and honors including the Chief Scientist of the National Key Research and Development Program, the National non-ferrous Metal Outstanding Youth Science and Technology Award, the China-Australia Young Scientist Exchange Award, MEI Young Person’s Award, and the Young Elite Scientists Award by China Association for Science and Technology. He is now serving as the Co Editor in Chief of Minerals Engineering and the Member of the Academic Committee of Central South University.