Comminution and classification equipment   Flotation equipment   PEPT equipment

Computational Research Facilities   Laboratory Analytical Equipment

Ore Preparation and Processing Equipment   Plant Facilities and Equipment

 

 

Comminution and Classification Research Equipment:

  • Hydrocyclone test rigs
    • 75 mm polyurethane cyclone with variable geometry
    • 100 mm polyurethane/steel cyclone with variable geometry
    • 165 mm polyurethane cyclone with variable geometry (located at Stellenbosch University)
  • Derrick screen with panels ranging from 45 to 300 µm aperture
  • A highly instrumented Short Impact Load Cell, for use on rock fracture studies
  • Drop-weight tester
  • M4 IsaMill rig – signature plots (coupled with floatability)
  • Milling characterisation test rig (located at University of Stellenbosch)
  • Magotteaux Mill – highly instrumented and automated milling rig
  • Laboratory milling rigs, specifically designed for X-ray filming and PEPT tracking for gathering experimental data on charge motion
  • Custom designed annular shear cell for ore breakage characterisation
  • Pin mill – controlled milling in a vertical stirred grinding environment

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Flotation Research Equipment:

  • Bench scale batch flotation cells – 0.5 to 20 L
  • Micro-flotation bubble loading cells (2), Emdee Microflot cell
  • Oscillating grid and baffle column cells
  • High-intensity conditioning cell – 3 and 20 L
  • Pilot scale column cells, 6 m (2)
  • Jameson cell, 2 m
  • Bateman 60 and 120 L continuous/batch cells
  • UCT Bubble size analyser
  • Froth stability – Bikerman column – dynamic and static froth stability in 3 phase
  • Depressant Laboratory – full characterisation of a depressant sample including: moisture, purity, viscosity, pH, degree of substitution, molecular weight distribution and insoluble material. Particle size distribution and specific gravity measurements are conducted on request.

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PEPT Equipment:

  • Located at iThemba Laboratories in Cape Town, the Positron Emission Tomography (PET) scanner (ECAD, EXACT3D) is the most sensitive piece of equipment of its kind in the world today. See PEPT Cape Town for detailed information

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Computational Research Facilities:
The unit has a range of high-end desktop computers dedicated to research activities in DEM (eDEM and Rocky) and CFD (CFX; Fluent)

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Laboratory Analytical Equipment:

  • Physical analysis of particles
    • Particle size (Malvern particle size analyser, sieve shakers – 25 to 45 000 mm)
    • Particle Size: Sieving (20 to 45 000 mm)
    • Particle Size: Laser Sizer (Malvern 2000 & Horiba LA950, < 1 um to 2000 mm) 
    • Particle Size & Shape: Particle Image Analyser (Retsch Camsizer XT, 5 um to 3000 mm)
    • Zeta sizer
    • Micromeritics BET/Chemisorption potential and mercury intrusion porosimiter
    • Instron universal strength tester
    • Accupyc pycnometer
  • Chemical/mineralogical analysis of particles
    • AA, UV, FTIR, MS, XRD, XRF, ICP, SEM, EDAX/TEM
    • Leco sulphur analyser
    • Quantitative mineralogy (QEMSCAN) – bulk mineralogy (mineral %) or particle mineralogy (mineral grain size distribution, liberation and association)
    • SGE Anatoc total organic carbon analyser, Coal ashing furnaces
    • Gas chromatography, Size exclusion chromatography
  • Solution analysis:
    • Viscometers (Brookfield; Haake) – the effect of particle size and % solids on              slurry rheology
    • Paterson and Cooke tube rheometer
    • Static surface tension (Wilhelmy plate, deNouy ring), Dynamic surface tension (maximum bubble pressure)
    • Turbidity measurement for dispersion/coagulation characteristics
    • ph, Eh, DO, temperature (TPS meters, YSI meter)
    • OSCAR oxygen demand unit

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Ore Preparation and Processing Equipment:

  • Crushers
    • Jaw crusher (located at the UCT Geology Department)
    • Cone crusher
  • Mills
    • Stainless steel tumbling roller mills (2) and pinion mill (stainless steel balls/rods)
    • Enclosed roller mill (stainless steel balls/rods)
    • Ceramic pot mill (ceramic media)
    • Micronising mill
  • Sample preparation
    • Pressure filters
    • Ovens
    • Infra-red drying table
    • Pulveriser
    • Rifflers
    • Rotary sample splitter, 10-way
    • Rotary sample splitter, 8-way
    • Micro sample splitter, 8-way
    • Large ultrasonic bath
    • Sonic Ruptor

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Plant Facilities and Equipment:

  • Anglo Platinum Bubble Sizer (APBS) – flotation cell gas dispersion characterisation (superficial gas velocity and bubble size)
  • Liner profile gauge – liner geometry and wear (input into MillTraj)
  • Mobile sample processing trailer – a portable laboratory with all the equipment required for collecting samples and conducting full sizing analyses on site
  • Comminution and flotation plant survey equipment

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