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By D. W. McGlashan, K. N. Mcleod

IN the use of free bubbles with precise temperature control and continuous pH measurement, the contact angle apparatus differs from all previous equipment. Experimental procedures differ sharply from the captive bubble method1,2 of introducing the gaseous phase in the three-phase system. When freed from the tube and captured by a solid surface, a bubble more closely conforms to the spherical ideal set up by the usual mathematical analysis of surface free energy or surface tensional relationships of the forces involved. The assembled equipment, Fig. 1, departs from the usual contact angle apparatus in providing: 1) water circulation for fixing temperature, 2) instruments to measure and record pH during testing, and 3) a system for producing and using free bubbles. The apparatus allows testing over a broad range of closely controlled conditions, and the use of free bubbles gives contact angles independent of operator manipulation, which was unavoidable in the older captive bubble method. A bubble released below the specimen rises through the liquid and contacts the mineral. If the mineral is gas-avid the bubble adheres, developing a finite contact angle. Reaction cells (1), 2x33/8x5 3/16 in. ID, are of pyrex glass 5 mm thick. To prevent optical distortion, the sides are optical flats and are planed parallel to within five wave lengths of light over the entire surface. Special cement is required to withstand chemical attack and thermal shock. The cell is placed in a thermal jacket (2) made of welded aluminum. A water seal for the optical ports is made by using O-rings tightened against the flats of the cell by fine-threaded and adjustable ports, Fig. 2. In-flow water is discharged downward from a manifold located near the bottom of the cell jacket. Water overflows the weirs at each end of the cell jacket, discharging from both sides to a collecting manifold (24). A hose (26) leads the overflow water to the thermal-conditioner well (4), which is recessed to accommodate a reaction cell and two beakers (150 ml). Both the thermal jacket and the thermal-conditioner well are insulated to minimize the effects of temperature differentials. Water, discharging from the thermal-conditioner well, returns to a thermostat bath and pump (3), from which it is pumped to the thermal jacket. The thermostat bath permits temperatures to be adjusted from 1" or 2°C to 80°C and will maintain the selected temperature within 0.2ºC. An electrode support (22) groups the four electrodes (8) so that they fit conveniently into the reaction cell, Fig. 2. This assembly holds the glass electrode, the calomel electrode, the temperature-

Jan 1, 1957

By E. F. Burch, R. W. Schoenberger

This paper deals with an investigation of the use of steam filtration for filter cake dewatering and shows that it may be applied on a practical scale. The advent of larger quantities of minus 1/4 in. coal in the raw feed to the preparation plant and the necessity of recovering this material has made the problem of meeting product moisture specifications more difficult. For a number of years thermal dryers have been used advantageously as a means of reducing fine coal moisture content where the over-all economics would justify such an installation. However, these units are not without their drawbacks because of high capital and operating costs, safety hazards and possible degradation of the product, and thus an alternative method of moisture reduction is highly desirable. After the various mechanical variables associated with filtration have been optimized, an examination of theory shows that surface tension and liquid viscosity are the only two remaining variables which might be altered to reduce moisture content. A lowering of the surface tension within the limits of normal wetting agent dosage results in a rather insignificant decrease in cake moisture content. Not until the dosage is increased to a point well beyond this limit is there an appreciable decrease in moisture. At these high dosage levels, interfacial tension is a major factor contributing to the appreciable moisture reduction obtained. Since no suitable method has been developed to recover and recycle this wetting agent, this phenomena is not of practical significance. On the other hand, a reduction in liquid viscosity has a pronounced effect on cake moisture. While it is readily apparent that one method of reducing liquid viscosity is to heat the entire feed slurry, it is equally apparent that this would not be an economic approach except, perhaps, in certain isolated cases. It does, however, suggest that water circuits should be designed to conserve heat as much as possible and to make use of any waste heat that may be available. The use of hot air as a heat carrying medium for drying porous materials on a filter has been practiced for many years. However, this method is restricted to materials with a high air rate in the order of 100 cfm/ ft2 because of the low heat release per unit weight of air passing through the cake. The normal fine coal filter cake has an air porosity far too low to make this a practical approach. Various types of radiant heating devices have been investigated and can significantly lower moisture content at reasonable thermal efficiency. However,

Jan 1, 1964

By C. E. Silverblatt, D. A. Dahlstrom

Previous bench-scale studies demonstrated that a substantial moisture reduction can be obtained by the application of steam to coal filter-cakes, particularly to those containing a limited amount of minus 200-mesh material. Consequently, U.S. Steel's Applied Research Laboratory conducted a study to determine the feasibility of steam filtration of 1/4 in. by 0 coal on a continuous pilot-scale installation in which an Eimco extractor is used. The test results showed that the moisture content of this coal could be reduced to 5.5% at a steam loading of about 175 lb of steam per ton of dry cake. In terms of steam consumption, this loading is calculated to be 1-1/2 lb of steam per lb of water removed. In some tests, only 1 lb of steam per lb of water removed was required. These levels of steam consumption are significantly less than the actual heat requirements of conventional thermal dryers. The satisfactory moisture reductions were obtained at filtration rates of 125 to 186 lb of dry solids per sq ft per hour. However, the proper design of commercial filters should improve the potential rates that can be attained. These results indicate that steam filtration has considerable economic potential for drying 1/4 in. by 0 coals and also has additional advantages over the conventional thermal drying of coal. The results of the previous bench-scale studies and those published by Burton' demonstrated that a substantial moisture-content reduction can be effected by the application of slightly superheated steam to coal filter-cakes, particularly to those containing a limited amount of minus 200-mesh material. Consequently, US Steel's Applied Research Laboratory conducted a study to determine the feasibility of steam filtration of 1/4 in. by 0 coal on a continuous basis. In the continuous process, the dewatering operation on the filter is conducted in stages. In the first, the bulk of the water in the feed slurry is removed by conventional mechanical dewatering on a portion of the filter before the steam is applied. In the second stage, steam is applied to the cake. The steam condenses and releases its latent heat, thereby reducing the viscosity of the remaining cake water; this reduced viscosity then facilitates further drainage and produces a cake of lower moisture content. Because of the availability of feed coal on a continuous basis and since steam was readily available from a low-pressure boiler, the Applied Research Laboratory selected for the test site a coal-preparation plant that cleans Pittsburgh Seam coal. A slurry of table and flotation coal in percentages as they occur normally was used as feed stock. Typical analyses of this slurry are shown in Table I. DESCRIPTION OF FILTER AND EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURES An Eimco Extractor was selected for the evaluation of steam filtration in a continuous process. This unit was chosen because of its availability and its design features that permit relatively simple hood construction, instrumentation, and operation. A photograph of the Extractor is shown in Fig. 1. In the filter a cloth medium is used that travels horizontally and continuously with a grooved, rubber drainage belt. The total effective filter area was 12.5 sq ft. As the feed slurry flows by gravity from the feed box onto the medium,

Jan 1, 1964

By R. B. Schluter, M. M. Fine

Processes for manufacturing prereduced pellets have heretofore required temperatures of 2100°F or higher. Sulfides will accelerate the liquid-phase sintering of metallic iron, yet do not deter the reduction of iron oxides. The sulfides may be introduced as gases to the kiln atmosphere or as solids in the re-ductants. The net result is that well metallized iron pellets with good crushing strength can now be produced at a little over 1800°F. One of the most persistent topics at technical gatherings and in the recent scientific press has been the reduction of iron ore. In May 1960, a symposium on the subject was sponsored by the Electrochemical Society. The proceedings, comprising two dozen papers, were later published.' More recently, in November 1966, a similar gathering took place at Michigan Technological University, Houghton, Mich. The latest meeting was the International Congress on Production and Utilization of Reduced Materials at Evian, France, in May 1967. If the volume of literature, symposia and conferences is a measure of industry concern, then the current interest in reduction must be at a high level. Barrett,2 one of the early pioneers, stated some years ago that "The history of sponge iron has been so discouraging that many men in the iron and steel industry are violently opposed to giving it any further consideration." In spite of the "violent opposition" noted by Barrett, research people in and out of the industry continue to be attracted by the elusive prospect of uncovering a simple, viable means of direct reduction. Wild,3 one of the speakers at Evian, listed no less than 48 direct reduction processes (laboratory, pilot plant and commercial). Some of these were of historical interest only, but many others had resulted from developments within this decade. The previous big thrust into direct reduction occurred under the artificial impetus of a wartime economy (World War 11) and was largely an effort to provide more melting stock without coke ovens and blast furnaces. The present-day inquiry is proceeding at a more leisurely pace and the emphasis is different. For one thing, there is much less anxiety to circumvent the blast furnace. On the contrary, a whole new research endeavor has grown from the discovery that metallized burdens are exceptionally productive.4 Although the search for a melting stock

Jan 1, 1970

By Bernard Rachlin

IN the mineral industry measurement of density or specific gravity of slurries is often necessary or highly desirable. To date the most successful method of measuring the specific gravity of various media is to hand weigh a constant volume sample of the slurry. This method is time-consuming, however, and is intermittent rather than continuous. Most density measuring instruments in use today are variations of three basic systems: air bubble tube systems, radioactive methods, and displacer systems. The high cost of the radioactive cell, combined with the precision electronic measuring that is required, limits the practical utility of this procedure to a small percentage of critical processes. In the air bubble systems clogging of the bubble tubes with solids has rendered this type of measurement completely ineffectual for many applications. Continuous or intermittent purging of the bubble tubes with air or water to prevent tube clogging has been tried but has not been very successful, especially in the heavy media process. The displacer system, which presents the fewest complications of all the density measuring systems, consists only of a metal immersion unit and a means of weighing it. In the past, settling of the solid in the slurry has caused untrue samples and clogging of the media at the bottom of the chamber. It is also important to dampen excessive flow surges such as those caused by reciprocating pumps. The system described here successfully overcomes these difficulties. Description of the Process System: The process equipment, on which the field tests were run, was a

Jan 1, 1957

By K. Takahashi, I. Iwasaki

The methyl stretching vibrations for a series of normal xanthates, isoxanthates and normal amines were determined with the aid of an infrared spectro-photometer, and the results were compared with published information on the corresponding alcohols. The frequency shifts of methyl stretching vibrations may be attributed to the inductive effect of polar groups. The hydrogens in the shorter chain alkyl groups are somewhat polar and can be expected to interact with water molecules by hydrogen bonding. Contact angle, surface tension lowering, solubility, and critical micelle concentration appear to be related to the induced polarity of the alkyl groups. Traube's rule states that in homologous series of compounds solubility decreases and surface activity increases regularly with the size of the hydrocarbon group. Analyzing the work of transfer of a solute from solution to surface, Langmuir' interpreted this rule to mean that each CH2 group added to a molecule produced its effect independently of the others. It is also well known2 that the maximum equilibrium contact angle with sulfhydryl collectors is independent of the polar groups and of the sulfide minerals, and that it increases to a certain limit with the number of carbon atoms in the alkyl group. This observation is thought to demonstrate the orientation of the collector molecules at the sulfide surfaces. The dependence on the hydrocarbon chain length is usually explained as due to the screening of the force field of polar mineral surfaces.3-5 Here again, Langmuir's principle of independent surface action appears to be implied. Heteropolar compounds consist of nonpolar and polar groups, the former being the hydrocarbon group and the latter containing such electronegative atoms as O, N, S, P, or halogens. According to Palit6 the hydrogens in the alkyl groups are more electroposi- tive than in the paraffins owing to the negative inductive effect of the polar groups and a possibility that a hydrogen bond with water molecules ensues. Goto and Takenaka7 provided direct evidence of the inductive effect by measuring the shift of the C-H stretching vibrations of alcohols, acids, and alkyl bromides with an infrared spectrophotometer. Their approach appeared to be directly applicable to the studies of surface activity both at air-water and water-mineral interfaces encountered in flotation systems. The present article attempts to relate the C-H stretching vibrations of alkyl xanthates, alcohols, and amines with such flotation chemistry parameters as contact angle, surface tension lowering, solubility, and critical micelle concentration. MATERIALS AND METHODS Normal xanthates from methyl to octyl inclusive and the isopropyl, isobutyl, and isoamyl xanthates used in this investigation were prepared in the usual manner.8 Normal amine hydrochlorides with carbon chain lengths of 1, 2, 4, and 6 were from Distillation Products Industries, of 8 from Archer-Daniels-Midland Co., and of 10, 12, 14 and 16 from Armour and Co. Normal propylamines, pentylamines and heptylamines from Distillation Products Industries were used both as received and as hydrochloride formed by converting the amines according to the procedure described by Li9 Perkin-Elmer Model 521 and 621 infrared spectro-photometers were used to investigate the spectra in the frequency region of 3050 to 2800 cm-' with frequency scale expansion. The accuracy of the frequency readings was within + 1 cm-1. The KBr micropellet technique was used to prepare the xan-thate samples for measurements, and the halocarbon mull technique was used for amines and amine hydrochlorides. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS Fig. 1 shows the CH3 asymmetric stretching vibrations as a function of the number of carbons in the alkyl group for normal xanthates, isoxanthates and amines. Also included in the figure are data for normal alcohols and isoalcohols taken from the article

Jan 1, 1970

By R. W. Smith, T. J. Smolik

Recent work indicates that fluosilicate ions and or fluosilicate amine complex ions play important roles in fluoride activation of bery and feldspars in cationic flotation systems. In an attempt to further confirm conclusions reached in this earlier work, an infrared and X-ray diffraction study of the action of fluorides in cationic flotation of silicates was undertaken. It should be noted that in recent years considerable use has been made of infrared spectroscopy in studies of surface phenomena,2-4 and these studies have established the excellence of the technique. In the present study infrared spectra were obtained for various products of the reaction of HF and dode-cyclamine hydrochloride with quartz, microcline and beryl. These spectra were compared with one another and spectra of several inorganic and organic substances. In addition to infrared spectra, X-ray diffraction patterns were run on many of the reaction products obtained. A model 137 B Perkin Elmer Infracord double beam spectrophotometer containing sodium chloride optics was used to obtain the spectra. Infrared samples, except for the dodecylamine sample, were prepared by thoroughly mixing the substance to be analyzed with purified KBr in steel vessels on a Wig-L-Bug amalgamator. One-half in. pellets weighing 100 mg were than pressed under vacuum. Details concerning percentage of the substance to be analyzed in the pellets are indicated on the spectra. In all cases except for dodecylamine a KBr pellet was placed in the reference beam of the spectrophotometer to cancel bands due to possible impurities in the KBr. The dodecylamine sample on which an infrared spectrum was obtained was prepared by placing pure dodecylamine between two salt plates. X-ray diffraction patterns were obtained with a Norelco instrument, using a copper target tube, nickel filter and Geiger tube detector. The samples were ground into powders and either placed on glass slides with glue or placed into regular powder sample holders for diffraction studies. Goniometer scanning speed varied from 1°/min to 1/8°/min. EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Infrared spectra of microcline, beryl and quartz were obtained first and are shown in Fig. 1. These spectra agree reasonably well with previously reported spectra.5,6 The microcline (Fig. 1 a) and beryl (Fig. 1 b) were from good Black Hills crystals. The quartz (Fig. 1 c) was from a large, clear Brazilian crystal. It is not clear whether absorption bands of minerals are due to molecular vibrations, lattice vibrations or both. Fig. 2 shows infrared spectra of dodecylamine (Fig. 2 a) and dodecylamine hydrochloride (Fig. 2 b). The dodecylamine spectrum checks quite closely with that reported in Sadtler.8 Little is known of the spectra of hydrochloride salts of amines,9 and a spectrum of dodecylamine hydrochloride could not be

Jan 1, 1965

By M. E. Wadsworth, J. S. Cho

Colloidal silica dissolved in aqueous suspensions of high surface area thoria was permitted to adsorb on the thoria surface. Silica in three forms was identified by means of infrared spectroscopy and characterized by Si-O vibrational modes in the 9.0 to 10.5 region. A band at 9. 1 was attributed to free unad-sorbed silica, while adsorbed silica resulted in bands of greatest absorbency at 9.4 or 10.3p, depending upon the character of the surface bonding. Size considerations, the amount of silica adsorbed, and the character of the infrared spectrum for strongly adsorbed silica has been interpreted as evidence of formation of chain or layer silica linkages on the thoria surface. Infrared spectroscopy has been used successfully in recent years for the identification of minerals and synthetic inorganic substances. Unfortunately, infrared studies of silicate minerals have not proceeded to the point that unambiguous assignments may be made for Si-O vibrational modes as affected by lattice substitutions and structures. Several investigators have presented infrared spectra of silicate minerals, 1,7 and their work has pointed to the potential value of infrared to identify minerals as well as to note the sensitivity of various Si-O modes to structural and substitutional environments. The strong infrared absorption of various Si-O vibrational modes makes the infrared method a very useful tool for the study of silica adsorbed on the surface of solids of high surface area. Spaepen et a18 studied the adsorption of silica on thoria surfaces from aqueous solutions of silicic acid up to 300°C. A general review of the application of the infrared method to the study of surface adsorption has been presented by Pliskin and Eischens.9 EXPERIMENTAL Du Pont colloidal silica, Ludox SM (16.36% SiO2) and Ludox HS (30.25% SiO2) in aqueous suspensions were used as the sources of silica for the adsorption studies. The thoria used for this study was supplied by Union Carbide Nuclear Co.* under the preparation *Chemical Technology Div., Union Carbide Nuclear Co., Oak Ridge, Tenn. . number D-16-650. It was fired from the oxalate at 650°C and had a surface area of 32.4 ± 0.6 m2 per g measured by nitrogen adsorption. The chemical analysis of the D-16 thoria in ppm was: CO3= (5500), NO3- (< 4), so4±PO4 (100), and Si (20). The Ludox silica was placed in contact with the thoria in a two-liter autoclave10 between room temperature and 250°C. Slurries were made by placing 1 g of thoria in one liter of distilled water containing various additions of the silica sol. Samples were removed from the autoclave by opening a small stainless steel valve. Extracted samples were centrifuged for 10 min and excess solution was decanted. The sample was then dried for several hours at 80°C. Infrared samples were prepared by thoroughly mixing 10 mg of the thoria with 400 mg KBr in polystyrene vials on a "Wig-L-Bug" amalgamator. Pellets were pressed under vacuum and had final dimensions of 1.2 cm diam and 1.2 mm thick. Infrared spectra were

Jan 1, 1963

By T. Yamasaki, S. Usu

Adsorption of potassium dodecyl xanthate from aqueous solutions on artificial and natural zinc sul-fides was studied by means of infrared absorption spectroscopy. The adsorption species and their stabilities varied depending upon the conditions of the surfaces of the zinc sulfides. Adsorption products were analyzed after they had been removed from the surface with pyridine. Zinc dodecyl xanthate was confirmed for surfaces covered with oxidized products while dodecyl alcohol and carbon disulfide were detected on purified or weakly oxidized surfaces. It is of great significance to study the adsorbed species of collectors on the surface of sulfide minerals with a view of increasing our understanding of the mechanism of flotation. Compared with other methods, infrared spectroscopy promises to be of particular value in determining the nature of the species adsorbed at the mineral/solution interface since it gives direct identification of the adsorption products; and, furthermore, it has an advantage over the electron diffraction technique which has been employed in similar problems in that infrared spectroscopy utilizes radiation of very low energy so that the probability of changing the unstable surface films during examination should be correspondingly decreased. Infrared spectroscopic studies concerned with sulfide mineral flotation have already been reported by several investigators on zinc sulfide-hexanthi01&apos; and lead sulfide-xanthate2,3 systems. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the adsorption of potassium dodecyl xanthate (KDX) at the zinc sulfide-aqueous solution interface by means of infrared spectroscopy. Rarely is the pure zinc sulfide-xanthate system encountered in practical flotation since zinc sulfide is usually activated with small amounts of certain metallic ions, such as copper ion. However, investigation of the pure zinc sulfide-xanthate system appeared promising for studying the fundamental mechanism of the adsorption of xanthate on the sulfide minerals. Although there are few cases where xanthates having an alkyl radical higher than hexyl are employed in practical operations, KDX was used in this study since it was reported that the adsorbability of xanthate on zinc sulfide was increased with an increasing number of carbon atoms of the alkyl radicals.4 EXPERIMENTAL Samples: Experiments were made on artificial zinc sulfide and natural sphalerite. The artificial zinc sulfide was obtained commercially from Dainihon Toryo Co. as a fluorescent pigment of the purest grade A. Considering the fact that there are often cases where the surface of sulfide minerals are apt to be oxidized so that the adsorption of xanthate at sulfide mineral/solution interfaces may be substantially affected, two different procedures were employed in preparing the samples of the artificial zinc sulfide. 1) The zinc sulfide was washed with hot concentrated ammonium chloride solution (300 g per liter) to remove surface oxidation products and followed by washing with deoxygenated hot distilled water by centrifugation until the constant electric conductivity of the solution was reached (Sample I) (specific conductivity of the solution = 8.6 x l0-5 ohm-&apos; cm-&apos;). 2) Sample I in a suspension of 5% by weight was oxidized with a 1.5% aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution for about one hour, and then was washed with distilled water as mentioned in the preparation of Sample I (Sample 11) (specific conductivity of the solution = 1.0 x 10"4 ohm-&apos; cm-&apos;). Both Samples I and II were dried under vacuum and stored in a vacuum desiccator. The specific surface areas of the samples determined by the BET method using carbon dioxide gas were 19 x l04 cm2 per g for Sample I and 35 x l04 cm2 per g for Sample 11. In addition, a sample which was derived from Sample I was also prepared. In 40 ml of 3 x 10-2 M zinc sulfate solution was placed 2 g of Sample I for 2 hours, washed with distilled water by successive centrifugation until no sulfate ion could be detected and dried under vacuum (Sample 111). The purpose of this treatment will be described later. Natural sphalerite was carefully selected by hand, ground in a mechanical agate mortar for about 40

Jan 1, 1965

By H. E. Powell, A. A. Cochran, R. E. Coleman

Infrared spectroscopy, employing the internal reflection method in conjunction with solvent extraction techniques, was used to study surface reactions between aqueous potassium ethyl xanthate and both sphalerite and precipitated zinc sulfide, each activated with aqueous copper sulfate. It was determined that reactions occurring on the sphalerite and zinc sulfide surfaces produce the reaction products ethyl dixanthogen and cuprous ethyl xanthate, some of which are adsorbed on the mineral surfaces. As the pH of the xanthate solution increased from 5.6 to 11.0, the amount of cuprous ethyl xanthate on powdered sphalerite surfaces decreased and the amount of ethyl dixanthogen first increased and then decreased. It is generally accepted that the collector potassium ethyl xanthate will not float the mineral sphalerite (ZnS). However, Gaudin1 showed that sphalerite readily floats if activated with certain metal cations before exposure to the xanthate. Copper sulfate (CuSO4) was found to be the best activator for sphalerite. The over-all flotation reagent reaction, as given by Gaudin,3 is as follows: While this is the over-all reaction, the exact mechanism of the reaction and the intermediate compounds that may be formed are not yet known with certainty. Important work has been done in Russia by Plaksin

Jan 1, 1968

By D. G. Oss, S. E. Erickson

An automatic control method for the ferrosilicon heavy media process maintains media density within 0.01 specific gravity points. Continued demands for higher grade, competitive products from the Mesabi Range have resulted in experimental work such as that detailed for one concentrator. Various methods, step by step procedures and instruments used at an iron ore beneficiation plant in the development of an automatic control system are described. Work continues and it is hoped that further applications of control instrumentation can be made in the next operating season. The need for instrumentation and automatic control of the various parameters in the heavy media process of iron ore beneficiation has been apparent for some time. Continued demands for higher grade, competitive products from the Mesabi Range have made it necessary to increase the efficiency of the process in every possible way. In a typical heavy media flow scheme for iron ore beneficiation (Fig. 1) a sized, prepared feed (generally about —1% in. to +% in.) is fed to a heavy media separatory vessel, along with a ferrosilicon slurry. A separation of the feed is made on the basis of specific gravity. Low density particles overflow a tailings discharge weir, while high density ore particles sink to the bottom of the high density pool and are moved away to the concentrate discharge chute. Both products are passed over drainage screens and then are cleaned thoroughly of attached ferrosilicon on wash screens. Float material is generally stockpiled, while the sink product is shipped as a final concentrate. Undersize from the drain screens is returned directly to the circulating media sump. Wash screen undersize is cleaned of contaminating ore particles and slimes by passing through magnetic separators. Provision is also made for splitting a portion of the tailings drain undersize into the cleaning circuit if necessary for control of depth of tailings overflow, or for additional cleaning as required. Cleaned ferrosilicon is stored in a densifier and returned to the Circulating media sump as make-up material. Dilution water is also added to this sump to maintain a desired specific gravity of the circulating media. As in any process, operational intelligence is secured only by keeping records of the process variables. Generally apeaking, plant operators have neither the inclination nor the time to keep complete and detailed records of these variables over the course of their shift. Before instrumentation was added to aid the operator, specific gravity was measured by weighing a given volume of pulp at intervals of from 30 to 60 min. Scale readings were made at the beginning and end of each shift. No records were kept of operating conditions, such as rpm of the separatory ves-sel, media level in the machine, tons per hour of the products, and so forth. These items were recorded only when spot checks were made by the metallurgical staff. CONTlNlJOUS DENSITY RECORDING The first process instrument used, other than the usual ammeter on the drive motor of the separatory vessel, was a nuclear density gauge and its associated circular chart recorder. These instruments were used to indicate and record specific gravity of the circulating media. This was a tremendous aid to the operator in that tie was able to observe and correct the specific gravity at any time. There was also added incentive to make frequent corrections because of the permanent record made by the recorder of the densities. The addition of the nuclear density gauge was influential in securing optimum quality and recovery of the heavy media product. Manual control was improved, and it became possible for a good operator to main control within f.05 specific gravity units. This compares with an unknown quantity, estimated at f0.15 gravity units, when manual measurement and control was used. An example of the improvement in manual control over the course of one season&apos;s operations is shown in Fig. 2. Chart A is typical of the records made shortly after the gauge was installed. Needless to say, it was difficult for operators and foremen alike

Jan 1, 1962

By S. R. Balajee, I. Iwasaki

The interaction between British gum 9084 and dode-cylammonium chloride (DAC) at quartz and hematite surfaces was established from coadsorption studies and streaming potential measurements. The cationic DAC interacts with the somewhat anionic British gum 9084, leading to the formation and adsorption of a binary complex of DAC-British Gum 9084 at the interface. The parallel ability to depress quartz along with hematite as a result of the interaction between DAC and British gum appears to be the main reason for the ineffective depressant action of starches and starch derivatives in the cationic flotation of iron ores. Amines are not particularly selective collectors for the flotation&apos; of siliceous gangue from iron ores and, therefore, a suitable iron oxide depressant is needed for a satisfactory separation. Various starches and their derivatives have been extensively tested with oxidized iron ores,&apos;-3 and it has been empirically established that British gums and dextrins are preferable. However, for the flotation upgrading of magnetite-taconite concentrates from 8 or 8.5% Si O2 to about 5% Si 02, British gums, which have been used so successfully on oxidized iron ores, have been found to have no effect and oftentimes are actually deleterious.4 In previous articles,5-7, starches were shown by adsorption measurements, flotation tests, and floccula-tion tests to interact with calcium ions in solution, and it was thought that a study on the interaction between starches and dodecylammonium ions would be able to shed some light on the anomalous flotation behavior described above. In fact, starches are known to interact markedly with paraffin-chain-type surface active agents and, thereby, to precipitate the starch or inhibit the iodine-starch reaction.8 From X-ray diffraction studies and viscosity measurements, the formation of a helical complex between mylose and a surface active agent has been postulated.9 The interaction with other types of hydrophilic colloids, such as synthetic polymers and proteins, has also been investigated and is usually explained in terms of van der Waals&apos; force interaction and/or ion-ion interaction. In the present investigation, the interaction of British gum and dode cylammonium chloride on quartz and hematite was studied by adsorption and streaming potential measurements in an attempt to establish the mutual adsorption behavior of British gum and dode-cylammonium chloride on mineral surfaces and to clarify the anomalous depressant activity of British gum in the cationic flotation of iron ores. All the measurements were carried out at a natural pH of near 7 because dodecylammonium chloride gives maximum selectivity of flotation separation at this pH2 and to avoid any third parameter in the system. EXPERIMENTAL MATERIALS AND METHODS Minerals: The quartz and hematite samples used for the adsorption tests were prepared as described in a previous paper,"J except that the specific surfaces of the samples were increased to 5,860 and 16,000 Sq cm per gm, respectively. For the streaming potential measurements, the 48165-mesh fractions screened out of the original samples were etched with hydrochloric acid, washed repeatedly with water, and stored under water in Pyrex bottles. Reagents:DodecyIammonium chloride (DAC) was prepared1 1 by bubbling dry hydrogen chloride gas through a benzene solution of high-purity dodecylamine supplied by Armour and Co. British gum 9084, received from Corn Products Co., was solubilized by first dispersing it in water to produce a 0.05% solution and then homogenizing it in a blender for 5 min. Distilled water was used in the preparation of the samples and the solutions and for all test work. Adsorption Measurements: The procedure for the adsorption density determinations was also the same as that described in the previous paper.1° The residual concentrations of the British gum and the DAC in the supernatant solution were analyzed colorimetrically by the phenol-sulf uric-acid and amine-picrate methods, respectively. The validity of the mine-picrate method for the colorimetric analysis of DAC in the presence of British gum and the analysis of British gum in presence of DAC were checked by establishing calibration curves between optical density and concentration. Streaming Potential Measurements: The cell assembly for the streaming potential measurements was similar to that described by Fuerstenau.&apos; The streaming potential

Jan 1, 1970

By I. Plaskin

Interaction of sulfide minerals and native metals I with reagents in flotation is largely determined by particle-surface changes resulting from action of the medium and dissolved gases. A number of early studies were devoted to the selective action of various gases on minerals.&apos; Mc-Lachlan&apos; paid attention to oxygen as the most active gas affecting flotation properties of sulfide minerals. Opposing views were expressed concerning the influence of sulfide oxidation on xanthate flotation: Taggart3 recognized the positive influence of oxygen, and I. W. Wark4 rejected it. Shvedovh ffered the hypothesis of partial oxidation. As to the influence of such gases as hydrogen" and carbon dioxide on mineral floatability, opinions also differed. Effect of Oxygen on Sulfide Mineral Flotation: Research on the influence of oxygen and other gases on the floatability of sulfide minerals and native metals has been carried out at the Institute of Mining of the USSR Academy of Sciences in

Jan 1, 1960

By I. Iwasaki

The interaction of starch and calcium ions in soap flotation of activated silica from iron ores was investigated using the response surface method. The results were correlated with adsorption studies and into pilot plant tests. It was reported previously1,2 that in soap flotation of activated silica from iron ores there existed an optimum combination of the amounts of starch and calcium chloride addition, and that corn starch as a depressant for iron oxides became effective when a critical amount of starch was added, beyond which excess starch appeared in measurable quantities in the aqueous phase. Further, adsorption studies2,3 with various starch products on hematite or quartz showed that the adsorption of starch at a given pH was markedly enhanced by the presence of calcium ion in solution. From these observations it becomes of interest to investigate the interaction of starch and calcium added to the ore pulp, and their influence on the selectivity of flotation separations. This paper describes an empirical relation between such dependent variables as the grade and recovery of iron in the concentrate and the residual concentrations of starch and calcium ion in solution as a function of two independent variables, namely the amounts of starch and calcium chloride addition, as determined by using the general technique of response surface methodology. The results thus obtained are correlated with the adsorption studies on hematite and quartz, and with a typical pilot plant operation. MATERIALS AND METHODS The ore sample used in the batch flotation studies was the fine fraction of a Mesabi gravity concentrate produced by pilot plant grinding and classification. The sample analyzed 55.21% iron and 14.70% insol, and consisted of 85.81% minus 325 mesh (corresponding to Ore C). 2

Jan 1, 1965

By J. M. W. Mackenzie

The interactions between oil drops and mineral surfaces have been examined for the cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB)-quartz and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-hematite systems. The results have been interpreted using a electrical double layer interaction model, a "sweeping-penetration" model based on steric interactions and a free energy of adhesion model. The adsorption of long-chain ions at the mineral interface was also studied and found to follow a Fuerstenau-Modi model of combined Coulombic and chain-chain interaction forces. The basis of the emulsion flotation process and the feature which makes it differ from conventional flotation is: encounter, followed by adhesion, between oil drops and mineral particles which are suspended in an aqueous environment. The manner in which the adhesion between these two phases contributes to the flotation process may be through the formation of min-eral-oil drop-mineral linkages, mineral-oil drop-air bubble linkages, or a combination of both. Possible flotation mechanisms derived from these adhesion processes are shown schematically in Fig. 2 while Fig. 1 shows an example of the first mechanism for quartz particles which have been floated using a cetyltrimethyl-ammonium bromide (CTAB)-Nujol emulsion as collector. In Fig. 2 the three phases, mineral, oil, and air, for convenience have been shown as having approximately equal size. This would not always be the case in an actual emulsion flotation operation. For the flotation of sand-sized particles of approximately 0.5 mm diam, the mineral particles would be at least ten times the size of the largest emulsion drops present in the system, while in the flotation of —10u slime particles, the mineral phase may be of the same order of size as the oil phase. The air bubbles in a flotation cell are normally about 1 to 2 mm in diam and therefore, in general, would be larger than the oil drops. Although the relative size of the three phases does not alter the basic adhesion processes between oil drops, mineral particles, and air bubbles, which depend on the physical and chemical properties of the interfaces involved rather than on the extent of these interfaces, it does alter the degree of deformation of the oil drops and air bubbles which will occur on adhesion. For mechanisms 1 and 2 to take place, the oil-water and mineral-water interfaces must be partially replaced by a mineral-oil interface while in mechanism 2 there is the additional requirement that the oil-water and air-water interfaces must be replaced by an oil-air interface. In view of the importance of the oil drop-mineral particle encounter and subsequent adhesion stages to both of the emulsion flotation mechanisms discussed, a study has been made of some physicochemical factors which control these processes for Nujol-cetytri-methylammonium bromide (CTAB)-quartz and Nujol-sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) -hematite systems. Experimental Electrokinetic Measurements.—The zeta potential of mineral particles was measured using a streaming potential technique similar to that described by Fuerste-nau.1 The streaming potential was measured using a multirange electrometer while the plug conductivity was measured using a 50 cycle sec1 bridge. Measurements were made on 28 x 65 mesh particles. Contact Angle Measurements.—A captive bubble technique was used to measure the contact angles for air bubbles and oil drops. The angles were measured on fracture faces of unmounted minerals which proved easier to clean than polished mounted specimens and should more closely represent a flotation system. Reagents: These have been described in a previous publication.0 Minerals: Rock crystal quartz from the New England district, N.S.W., was used for contact angle and streaming potential measurements. The quartz was hand

Jan 1, 1971

By C. M. Loeb, A. M. Gaudin, J. H. Brown

THE object of most size reduction operations in the mineral industry is to liberate the grains of valuable minerals in the ore from those of the gangue. This is usually accomplished by crushing and grinding the entire mass of ore until there is only a small probability that any single particle contains more than one mineral. During this size reduction only limited control exists over size or composition of the particles exposed to the breaking action, and there is no control over the paths followed by cracks generated during the operation. This lack of control usually results in overgrinding and in production of large quantities of very fine material. The first detriment, overgrinding, is costly in itself, but when combined with the second factor it is doubly so. Not only is the fracture of a free particle unnecessary—the fracture of these particles may also make subsequent separation operations difficult, inefficient, and wasteful. It has been pointed out&apos; that if the object of size reduction is to liberate the valuable mineral component of the ore then, ideally, fracture should follow intergranular paths to the exclusion of trans-granular ones. This would result in liberation of the valuable minerals with as little size reduction as possible. This ideal comminution operation is referred to as intergranular comminution, and it was the object of the investigation to determine the extent to which it could be developed by heat treatments. There are many indications in the literature that heating rocks prior to crushing may be favorable. Reports by Holman,2 Yates3 and Myers&apos; are pertinent. These investigators showed that heating certain rocks prior to crushing them did, in fact, improve their crushing characteristics in that fewer fines were produced, although the fact that intergranular comminution was being effected apparently was overlooked. In addition, Sosman noted that if there is appreciable anisotropism in the thermal coefficients of expansion of even a pure mineral, then considerable permanent separation of the grains of the rock can be expected as a result of heating the rock to a high temperature.&apos; By the same token, if there are ap- preciable differences in the thermal expansion coefficients of the various minerals of a multi-component rock, similar results should be obtained by heating this rock. This has been tested, partially, by Brenner," who obtained patents covering the heat treatment of some pegmatitic rocks in order to facilitate comminution of these materials. It has also been demonstrated that this may occur in taconite." Also, the possibility of causing decomposition of one mineral in a rock as a means of promoting intergranular fracture has been considered. Seigle2 and Schiffman et al. have obtained patents on such processes as applied to calcareous iron ores. These reports all indicate that heat treatments prior to crushing may contribute materially to intergranular comminution, but they also indicate that no organized attempt has been made to determine the controlling factors of the method or to determine its applicability in general. The present article is a report on the initial phase of such an investigation. The authors have reviewed the claims of prior investigators and have attempted, also, to establish the factors that might determine the applicability of heat treatments in the mineral industry. In this work 2000-g samples of various rocks were heated in a small laboratory furnace and crushing and sizing operations were carried out in standard laboratory equipment. All samples of each rock were as nearly identical as possible in particle size, grain size, and composition and contained only lumps coarse enough to contain many grains each. Tests on Granite A number of tests were made on a coarse grained Finnish granite obtained in the form of coarse chips from a local monument yard. This rock exhibited little variation from piece to piece in either composition or grain size. The minerals contained were quartz, orthoclase, small amounts of hornblende, and minute quantities of mica. Grain size ranged from about 1 mm to about 3 mm. Temperature of the Heat Treatment: In some cases the granite was heated to a particular temperature and crushed, hot, immediately upon withdrawal from the furnace—in others the rock was allowed to cool before crushing, but without quenching to room temperature after heating. In most tests on granite the heating period was about 2 hr with the furnace at the highest temperature for about 1 hr. Cases in which these periods were varied greatly will be presented separately.

Jan 1, 1959

By M. C. Fuerstenau, D. W. Fuerstenau

Studies of the collection of alkali and ammonium halides utilizing vacuum flotation techniques and contact angle measurements show that ionic size controls the flotation of techniquesthese halides with amine salts measurementsas collector. Contact angles of air bubbles on sylvite in saturated brines were withaminemeasured salts asascollector.a function of such variables as collector addition, length of collector chain, and pH of the brine. No contact occurs between halite and an air bubble in brines containing dodecylammonium acetate as collector. LONG-CHAINED aliphatic amine salts have been used for the separation of sylvite (KCl) from halite (NaCl) by flotation.1,2 It is puzzling how these two minerals, which are so similar chemically and crystallographically, can be separated by this method. Gaudin" has postulated that the difference in floatability of halite and sylvite with salts of primary amines depends on ionic size: In the case of amine flotation, the cation would attach itself to the chloride. I have a speculation there, which I cannot prove, that the ammonium group, that is the —NH3 group in the amine, floats potassium chloride because the dimensions of this grour, as it has been measured in other compounds is almost identically the dimensions of the potassium ion, quite different from the sodium ion, and so it fits where potassium had been, in place of it and not attached to it. Apparently, because an aminium ion (RNH3+) is much larger than a sodium ion, it cannot fit into the lattice of halite. Taggart also has speculated that ionic size may control the floatability of sylvite.4 The object of this experimental investigation has been to test this hypothesis and to study what controls the adsorption of cationic collectors at the surface of sylvite. Since collection is to be approached from the viewpoint of ionic size, the ionic radii that are of interest in this work are presented in Table I. The values of the ionic radii of the ions listed in Table I, except NH4+, are those given by Pauling." Several different values for the radius of the ammonium ion have been given, but that of Goldschmidt6 seems to be preferred. The radius of the charged head of a dodecylammonium ion is assumed to be the same as that for the ammonium ion. Little experimental work has been reported in the technical literature concerning the separation of sylvite from halite by flotation. Guyer and Perren studied the separation by flotation of 50 pct binary mixtures of NaCl, KC1, NH,Cl, NaNO3, KNO3, K2SO4, and Na,SO, using either oleic acid or a sodium sul-fonate as collector.&apos; It is possible to measure floatability under actual flotation conditions where all three phases, air- water-mineral, are present by vacuum flotation tests and contact angle measurements.9 Both of these techniques were used in the experimental approach in this paper. Experimental Method and Materials The vacuum flotation tests were run with glass-stoppered pyrex graduated cylinders. Twenty-five ml graduates were used to test the floatability of all salts studied except rubidium and cesium salts. For each test distilled water containing the desired collector concentration was saturated with the salt to be floated. Sufficient salt (—48 mesh) was added to leave about 2 ml of solids in the bottom of the graduate. After the graduate had been agitated several minutes to saturate the solution with air, a vacuum was applied. If the salt were floatable in the collector solution, the gas bubbles attached themselves to the particles, and the particles floated to the surface. In determining the floatability of the expensive Rb and Cs halides, the experiments were run in 10 ml graduates with about 11/2 ml of collector solution initially. Contact angles were measured in the usual manner except that the solutions had to be previously saturated with the mineral to avoid dissolution of the crystal. Solutions for studying contact angles were made by adding the desired amount of collector to a saturated brine, giving the collector concentration in molarity. The mixture was agitated until dissolution of the collector was complete, with the exception of those concentrations greater than about millimolar. At these high concentrations complete dissolution of the collector was impossible. The face of the mineral to be tested was a freshly cleaved crystal of halite or sylvite. The mineral was placed in the brine and conditioned with collector for at least 15 min, which was found to be long enough to obtain a maximum value for the contact angle. The temperature remained constant during each experiment. The experiments were run at 24°C ±2°C. For contact angle measurements, a crystal of halite from Carlsbad, N. M., was used. Several samples of sylvite were used in this work: a crystal of sylvite from Stassfurt, Germany; a crystal from Carlsbad, N. M.; and a crystal of chemically pure potassium chloride. Saturated brines were made from reagent grade chemicals and distilled water.

Jan 1, 1957

By H. L. Miaw, A. M. Gaudin, D. W. Fuerstenau

A quantitative method for evaluating density of slime coatings has been developed and applied to formation of iron oxide slime coatings on quartz and on corundum. Slime coating density is related to flotation recovery and to properties of the electrical double layer at mineral surfaces. IN spite of considerable study, the nature of slime coatings in flotation is still not completely understood. However, phenomena that control floc-culation and dispersion of colloidal systems are now interpreted in terms of electrical double layers.",&apos; Colloids will flocculate even though the particles carry the same charge, but when two dispersed colloids of opposite charge are mixed. flocculation ensues even more rapidly. Analogous phenomena seem responsible for slime coating on minerals in flotation systems. To shed new light on the issue it was considered desirable to devise a tool that would measure slime coatings. The usual method has been to examine photographs of presumably representative surfaces, after. an intervening washing in running water. But such an examination is non-quantitative, and the changes in chemical environment represented by the washing may have removed the slime coatings that existed during flotation. To provide the possibility for a correlation with electrical double layer phenomena, the experiments were made with quartz, corundum, and iron oxide, for which elec-trokinetic data are available.&apos;-" Since the properties of the electrical double layers of these oxides depend on the pH of the solution, pH will be the most important variable. Furthermore, because the zero point of charge for silica, iron oxide, and alumina occurs at pH 3.7, 8, and 9.5, respectively, the relative charge on the slime and mineral can be changed over wide ranges. Because of its practical importance in quartz flotation, iron oxide powder was chosen as the slime. Also, its uniform composition, contrasting color, and ease of analysis make experimentation simple. In this investigation, correlation was sought between the effect on flotation recovery of slime addition and slime coating density. Materials and Methods Details are available in a thesis by Miaw." The quartz was selected from pure Brazilian crystalline quartz, crushed, sized (65/150 mesh) acid-cleaned, washed, and stored in conductivity water. The corundum (synthetic alumina of high purity prepared by Linde Co., Chicago) was crushed, sized (65/100 mesh) deslimed, boiled in nitric acid, washed, and stored in conductivity water. The iron oxide slime, reagent-grade ferric oxide (—400 mesh) from Allied Chemical & Dye Corp., was heated to 160°C, cooled, and stored in a vacuum desiccator. In the electron microscope the slime particles appeared to be about 0.3µ in size, but their large specific surface (87,900 cm per g, by gas-adsorption method, using krypton) suggests that the actual particles are smaller than 0.3r. Had they been perfect nonporous spheres, they would have had a diameter of 0.13µ.

Jan 1, 1959

By S. R. B. Cooke, H. S. Choi, D. H. Harraway, I. Iwasaki

The mineralogy of natural iron ore samples and their slimes have been investigated and the nature of slime interference in iron ore flotation has been studied. The results have been correlated with the flotation behavior of a natural ore sample. Various conclusions have been reached as a result of these studies. In the flotation of iron oxide ores, desliming is generally considered to be an essential step to successful separation, irrespective of whether the iron oxide or siliceous gangue minerals are to be floated, although some workers have found empirically that certain collectors and reagent combinations are less sensitive to the presence of slime than others. The detrimental effect of slime is considered to be twofold. First, the presence of slime presupposes a high reagent consumption because of high specific surface. When clays are present and when cationic collectors are used abstraction by ionic exchange may augment this condition. Attempts to compensate by the addition of large amounts of reagent result in only partial correction. Second, slime coatings on granular particles tend to interfere with the bubble-mineral contact. The nature of slime coatings in flotation is quite complex and has been the subject of considerable study; an attempt was recently made by Fuerstenau et al.&apos; to relate the slime-coating density with flotation recovery and with the properties of the electrical double layer at the mineral surfaces. Although major constituent minerals in the oxidized iron ores of the Mesabi and Cuyuna ranges are hematite and goethite (limonite) as the iron oxides, and quartz and chert as the siliceous gangue, very little is known of the mineralogy and of the chemical and physical characteristics of the slimes, and still less of the interaction between slimes, collector, and the mineral surfaces. For pragmatic reasons iron ore slimes are defined as — 20p material, based upon the calculated settling velocity of a quartz sphere of the stated diameter, and of all other equal-settling mineral particles. Active slime interference with flotation is usually attributed to particles 5p in size or finer, the extent of such interference appearing to depend not only on the mineralogy but also on the size distribution of each mineral in the slime fraction. The objective of this work was to acquire a more specific knowledge of the constitution of iron ore slimes and of their role in flotation. The mineralogi-cal composition of natural slimes was obtained by differential thernal analysis (hereinafter referred to as DTA), electron microscopy, and chemical and X-ray analyses. Some flotation tests were made on natural ore samples. The surface properties of several constituent minerals were investigated by electrophoretic measurements and by determination of the adsorption of some typical flotation collectors. Finally, simplified flotation tests were made on granular goethite and quartz in the presence of various artifically prepared slimes; the results were compared with laboratory flotation tests made on natural ores. MATERIAL AND METHODS Mineralogy of Some Iron Ore Slimes: Samples of two wash-ore tailing::, hereinafter identified as A* and B, *Sample A of the present investigation 18 the same am ore A in ref. 3. of a wash ore C, and of a paint rock D, all from the Mesabi range, were selected for investigation on the basis of prior information concerning their flotation behavior. The two wash-ore tailings, when deslimed, were known to respond well to flotation, whereas the wash ore was high in goethite, tended to be slimy, and responded poorly to flotation. The paint rock also exhibited sliming tendencies, and was suspected to contain relatively large quantities of clay minerals because of its high A1203 content. Gruner states that the paint rock of the Mesabi frequently contains kaolinite. To ascertain the relative sliming tendencies of each sample a standardized desliming method was employed. All samples were ground through 65 mesh using jaw and rolls crushers. A 500-g sample of each

Jan 1, 1962

By D. H. Gieskieng

Published tables of jaw crusher capacities are compiled for the most part from field performance data, interspersed with interpolations, extrapolations, various safety factors, and other modifications. Such a table attempts to balance and equalize field data from widely Werent materials, with differences of crushability, efficiency of feeding, sizing of the feed, and so on. The tests described in this paper were undertaken with the objectives of checking previously reported capacities; of studying the effects of various factors upon the capacity, including jaw plate curvature; and, if possible, of deriving a general capacity equation. Such an equation has been derived from the data obtained in these tests. It is given together with factors for its use. While more accuracy than is usually required may be obtained by careful application of the equation, it is of simple form and provides a convenient reference plane upon which the potential capacity of various crushers may be compared, and with which operating adjustments may be made on existing installations. The principal deviation in these tests from the usual approach consists of a laboratory technique which has been developed for the production of selected capacity data. Recording instruments are connected to crushers in such a manner that a continuous record is produced which discloses the inherent maximum capacity of the crusher and shows capacity decreases caused by hangups. The capacity effects of various crushing conditions are made more evident by this arrangement. The recording instruments were first applied to a standard sized 10 by 7 in. Blake-type jaw crusher in the laboratory. Suficient tests were run on this with various combinations of setting, throw, speed, feed sizing, shapes of jaw plates, and other operating features, to establish the individual effect of each on the capacity. The instruments later were applied to much larger crushers in the field, through the excellent cooperation of the managements in the Mesabi Iron Range, and data were obtained which closely corroborated the established trends. The capacity equation resulting from the test work is made up of a series of factors, each representing the contributing effects of setting, speed, width of chamber, nip angle, feed density, type of jaw plates, stroke, and the overall operating technique. Fortunately, most of these factors were revealed to be in direct proportion to the capacity for straight plate chambers. This equation is also applicable to chambers using curved plates, with slight modifications resulting from the capacity limitation of the upper portion of the crushing chamber. The equation has been derived from tests covering a very wide range of feed density and hardness. It has been found valid, providing that the feed material is either nonpacking in character, as is usual, or allowance in designing the crushing chamber shape has been made to accommodate this characteristic. Preliminary investigation has shown that the equation is also applicable to single-toggle jaw crushers. Conditions of this are that the top of the flywheel rotate towards the top of the crusher opening, and that the horizontal motion of the swing jaw relative to the stationary jaw at the discharge opening be considered as the stroke. The relatively large upper chamber jaw motion would probably result in realiza-

Jan 1, 1950