Awards mark comminution’s cutting edge

Work on a new dual-zone flotation device, the NovaCell, has drawn accolades from the Coalition for Energy Efficient Comminution (CEEC). The CEEC Medal is granted annually to authors of outstanding papers that present innovative approaches to enhancing energy efficiency in comminution and mineral processing. This year's award for technical research has gone to Professor Graeme Jameson and Dr Cagri Emer from the University of Newcastle's Centre for Multiphase Processes. It was awarded for their publication Coarse chalcopyrite recovery in a universal froth flotation machine, on the NovaCell (published in Minerals Engineering in January). The NovaCell features a fluidised bed for coarse particle collection and a high shear aeration zone for ultra-fines separation. The researchers’ case study showed the device resulted in a 40 per cent reduction in comminution energy and a 12 per cent reduction in overall site operating cost. CEEC Medal Evaluation Committee Chair Dr Zeljka Pokrajcic said the entry was a clear standout in the Technical Research category, presenting high quality research that was well supported by strong technical information and cost analysis. “This work shows leadership in flotation approaches that can significantly improve comminution efficiency and productivity. It also provides a compelling case for the reduction of operating and capital costs by removing coarse size waste in the comminution circuit,” she said. The CEEC Medal for Operations was awarded to Kyle Bartholomew, Rob McIvor and Omar Arafat from Metcom Technologies, Grand Rapids, Minnesota, US for their publication A guide to maximising ball mill circuit classification system efficiency (CSE), for operators and equipment designers. The paper was presented at the 14th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference in Brisbane in August 2018. Rob McIvor from Metcom Technologies. Dr Pokrajcic said the paper provided a useful methodology for measuring and improving classification efficiency in a grinding circuit, highlighting the importance of classification in comminution circuits to improve efficiency and productivity. The 2019 CEEC Medal Evaluation Committee also selected three papers for High Commendation: High Commendation - Technical Research • How Far the Crushing Performance Can be Pushed? Cone Crusher vs Vertical Shaft Impactor (VSI), by Hamid Manouchehri. This paper was presented at Comminution ‘18, in Cape Town, South Africa. High Commendations - Operations • Advanced mine to mill application at the Barrick Cortez Mine, by Malcolm Powell, Sarma Kanchibotla, Vladimir Jokovic, Marko Hilden, Benjamin Bonfils, Anand Musunuri, Pamela Moyo, Sam Yu, Jace Young, Paul Yaroshak, Emrah Yalcin and Barun Gorain. This paper was presented at the 14th AusIMM Mill Operators’ Conference 2018 in Brisbane, Australia. • Mount Milligan Mine Performance Update by Berge Simonian. Presented in January 2019 at the 51st Annual Canadian Mineral Processors Operators Conference, Alberta, Canada. To view the abstracts and to find out more about the CEEC Medal visit www.ceecthefuture.org/ceec-medal.

Awards mark comminution’s cutting edge

Industry Queensland

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