Experimental and numerical studies of selective fragmentation of mineral ores in electrical comminution

An experiment was conducted in which two sulphide ores and one platinum ore were each subjected to high voltage pulses and mechanical breakage, with the same specific energy input, in order to compare the mineral modal abundance and grade in the two comminution products. The data from this experiment have provided unambiguous evidence of greater enrichment of the minerals with high conductivity/permittivity in the less than 0.3 mm size fractions of the electrical comminution product. Numerical simulations using COULOMB 3D indicated that with the existence of an electrical potential difference in the system, a high electrical field intensity was created around the boundary of the minerals with high conductivity/permittivity, causing selective fragmentation, thereby elucidating and supporting the experimental findings.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Enrichment of valuable minerals in electrical comminution product ► High electrical field intensity around the boundary of minerals with high permittivity ► Preferential breakage along the grain boundaries of minerals.