ST Equipment & Technology LLC (STET) tribo-electrostatic belt separator technology allows for the beneficiation of fine mineral powders with an entirely dry technology at a high throughput. The STET separator is well suited for separation of very fine (<1µm) to moderately coarse (500µm) particles, in contrast to other electrostatic separation processes that are typically limited to particles >75µm in size. STET has successfully beneficiated iron ore samples including run-of-mine ores, tailings and itabirite with iron feed contents ranging from 30-55%. Experimental findings indicate that low-grade iron ores can be upgraded to commercial grades (58-65% Fe) while simultaneously rejecting silica by using STET belt separator. Here, a compendium of experimental results and a preliminary study of potential applications for the STET technology for the iron industry are presented. The preliminary studies include high-level flowsheets and economic evaluations for selected applications. Challenges associated with the adoption of the technology and a comparison to currently available technologies for the processing of iron ore fines are also discussed.
1.0 Introduction
Iron ore is the fourth most common element in the earth’s crust and is essential for global economic development and steel manufacturing [1-2]. Iron ores have a wide range in chemical composition especially for Fe content and associated gangue minerals [1]. Major iron-bearing minerals are hematite, goethite, limonite and magnetite [1,3] and the main contaminants in iron ores are 2 and Al2O3. Each mineral deposit has its own unique characteristics with respect to iron and gangue bearing minerals, and therefore it requires a different concentration technique [4].
Modern processing circuits of iron bearing minerals may include gravimetric concentration, magnetic concentration, and flotation steps [1,3]. However, modern circuits present challenges in terms of processing of iron ore fines and slimes [4-6]. Gravimetric techniques such as spirals are limited by particle size and are only deemed an efficient way of concentrating hematite and magnetite for the size fraction above 75μm [5]. Wet and dry low-intensity magnetic separation (LIMS) techniques are used to process high-grade iron ores with strong magnetic properties such as magnetite while wet high-intensity magnetic separation is used to separate the iron bearing minerals with weak magnetic properties such as hematite from gangue minerals. Magnetic methods present challenges due to their requirement for the iron ore to be susceptible to magnetic fields [3]. Flotation is used to reduce the content of impurities in low-grade iron ores, but is limited by the cost of reagents, and the presence of silica, alumina-rich slimes and carbonate minerals [4,6]. In the absence of further downstream processing for the reject streams the fine iron rejects will end up disposed in a tailings dam [2].
Tailings disposal and processing of iron fines have become crucial for environmental preservation and recovery of iron valuables, respectively, and therefore the processing of iron ore tailings and fines in the mining industry has grown in importance[7].
However, the processing of iron tailings and fines remains challenging via traditional flowcharts and therefore alternative beneficiation technologies such as tribo-electrostatic separation which is less restrictive in terms of the ore mineralogy and particle size may become of interest. Dry electrostatic processing of iron ore presents an opportunity to reduce costs and wet tailings generation associated with traditional gravimetric, flotation and wet magnetic separation circuits.
STET has developed a separation process that enables efficient separation of fly ash and minerals according to their response when exposed to a specific electric field. The technology has been applied successfully to the fly ash industry and the industrial minerals industry; and STET is currently exploring other market openings where their separators could offer a competitive advantage. One of the targeted markets is the upgrading of fine iron ore.
STET has performed exploratory studies with several iron ores and experimental results to date have demonstrated that low-grade iron ore fines can be upgraded by means of STET tribo-electrostatic belt separator. The STET dry electrostatic separation process offers many advantages over traditional wet processing methods, including the ability to recover fine and ultra-fine iron that would otherwise be lost to tailings if processing with existing technology. In addition, the technology requires no water consumption, which results in the elimination of pumping, thickening and drying, as well as any costs and risks associated with water treatment and disposal; no wet tailings disposal – recent high-profile failures of tailings dams have highlighted the long-term risk of storing wet tailings; and, no chemical additional required, which therefore negates the ongoing expense of reagents and simplifies permitting.
Iron ore is an industry with a dynamic that is different from the other base metals. This is due to its fluctuating market, the huge production volumes involved and corresponding expenses both on the capital and operating sides [8] as well as the absence of central exchange hubs such as the London Metals Exchange. This translates into huge returns that are possible when the price rockets upward and razor thin margins when circumstances are direr. This is one reason behind the huge production volumes and the emphasis on low unit production costs.
Here, results of a screening study of the iron ore industry developed by STET and Soutex is presented in order to identify niches in which the STET technology could offer an economic advantage in comparison to more conventional technologies. Soutex is a minerals processing and metallurgy consultancy and has experience designing, optimizing and operating various iron ore concentration processes, with an understanding of the CAPEX, OPEX as well as the marketing aspects of the iron ore industry. For this study, Soutex provided its expertise in evaluating potential applications for triboelectrostatic separation in iron ore. Soutex’ scope included flowsheet development and order of magnitude study-level capital and operating cost estimates. This paper explores three of the most promising applications found, on a technical and economical level. These three applications were identified as: Upgrading of iron ore fines in the Australian DSO mining; scavenging of fine iron concentrate in hematite/magnetite concentrators; and, reprocessing of rich-Fe tailings from Brazilians operations.
2.0 STET Triboelectrostatic Belt Separator
Experiments were conducted using a bench-scale tribo-electrostatic belt separator. Bench-scale testing is the first phase of a three-phase technology implementation process including bench-scale evaluation, pilot-scale testing and commercial-scale implementation. The benchtop separator is used for screening for evidence of tribo-electrostatic charging and to determine if a material is a good candidate for electrostatic beneficiation. The main differences between each piece of equipment are presented in Table 1. While the equipment used within each phase differs in size, the operation principle is fundamentally the same.
STET has evaluated several iron ore samples at bench scale and significant movement of iron and rejection of silicates has been observed (See Table 2). Experimental conditions were selected so that an iron recovery vs. iron increase curve could be drawn and later be used as input for an operating economic model
Table 2. Bench-scale results on different iron ores
[table id=16 /]
(See Section 3.0, Figure 4). Additional experimental results showing separation results on iron ore samples using STET technology are presented in a previous publication by STET on iron ore processing [9].
Table 1. Three-phase implementation process using STET tribo-electrostatic belt separator technology.
[table id=17 /]
As can be seen in Table 1, the main difference between the benchtop separator and pilot-scale and commercial-scale separators is that the length of the benchtop separator is approximately 0.4 times the length of pilot-scale and commercial-scale units. As the separator efficiency is a function of the electrode length, bench-scale testing cannot be used as a substitute for pilot-scale testing. Pilot-scale testing is necessary to determine the extent of the separation that the STET process can achieve at commercial scale, and to determine if STET process can meet the product targets under given feed rates. Due to the difference in active separation length from bench scale to pilot scale, results typically improve at pilot scale.
2.1 Operation Principle
In the tribo-electrostatic belt separator (see Figure 1 and Figure 2), material is fed into the thin gap 0.9 – 1.5 cm between two parallel planar electrodes.
The particles are triboelectrically charged by interparticle contact. For example, in the case of an iron sample comprising mainly hematite and quartz mineral particles, the positively charged (hematite) and the negatively
charged (quartz) are attracted to opposite electrodes. The particles are then swept up by a continuous moving open-mesh belt and conveyed in opposite directions. The belt moves the particles adjacent to each electrode toward opposite ends of the separator. The counter current flow of the separating particles and continual triboelectric charging by particle-particle collisions provides for a multi-stage separation and results in excellent purity and recovery in a single-pass unit. The belt allows for processing on fine and ultra-fine particles including particles smaller than 20µm, by providing a method to continuously clean the surface of the electrodes and remove the fine particles, which would otherwise adhere to the surface of the electrodes. The high belt speed also enables throughputs up to 40 tonnes per hour on a single separator by continuously conveying material out of the separator. By controlling various process parameters, the device allows for optimization of mineral grade and recovery.
The separator design is relatively simple. The belt and associated rollers are the only moving parts. The electrodes are stationary and composed of a highly durable material. The belt is a consumable part which requires infrequent but periodic replacement, a process which is able to be completed by a single operator in only 45 minutes. The separator electrode length is approximately 6 meters (20 ft.) and the width 1.25 meters (4 ft.) for full size commercial units (see Figure 3). The power consumption is less than 2 kWh per tonne of material processed with most of the power consumed by two motors driving the belt.
The process is entirely dry, requires no additional materials and produces no waste water or air emissions. For mineral separation the separator provides a technology to reduce water usage, extend reserve life and/or recover and reprocess tailings.
The compactness of the system allows for flexibility in installation designs. The tribo-electrostatic belt separation technology is robust and industrially proven and was first applied industrially to the processing of coal combustion fly ash in 1995. The technology is effective in separating carbon particles from the incomplete combustion of coal, from the glassy aluminosilicate mineral particles in the fly ash. The technology has been instrumental in enabling recycle of the mineral-rich fly ash as a cement replacement in concrete production.
Since 1995, over 20 million tonnes of product fly ash have been processed by the STET separators installed in the USA. The industrial history of fly ash STET separation is listed in Table 3.
In minerals processing, the triboelectric belt separator technology has been used to separate a wide range of materials including calcite/quartz, talc/magnesite, and barite/quartz.
Table 3. Industrial application of tribo-electrostatic belt separation for fly ash
[table id=18 /]
3.0 Methodology
Three (3) cases have been identified for further evaluation and are processed through an order of magnitude study-level economic and risk/opportunity review. The evaluation is based on the potential gain an operator would perceive by incorporating STET’s technology into their plant’s flowsheet.
Performance of the STET separator is estimated according to bench scale tests performed (See Table 2). The data gathered with various iron ores allowed the calibration of a recovery model which was used to predict the recovery for the three (3) case studies. Figure 4 illustrates the outcome of the model in terms of performances and costs. The iron recovery is indicated directly on the bars, against the iron beneficiation in %Fe. In the bench scale testing, a single pass through the STET was tested as well as a two-pass flowsheet. Two-pass flowsheets involve the scavenging of the rougher tails, therefore increasing the recovery substantially. However, this involves additional STET machines and therefore higher costs. The error bars over the CAPEX bars indicate CAPEX price variation depending on project size. The unitary CAPEX figures decrease with project size. As an example, for the typical ore tested with a two-pass flowsheet, an increase of 15% in iron grade (i.e. from 50% Fe to 65% Fe) would predict an iron recovery of 90%. Lower iron recoveries are voluntarily used in the following case studies in order to consider the inherent loss of recovery when producing higher grade iron ore concentrates.
For each case study, a flowsheet is presented at an order of magnitude level and only the main equipment is shown in order to support economical evaluation. For each flowsheet, the economics are estimated under the following categories: Capital expense (CAPEX); Operating expense (OPEX); and, Revenue. At this screening stage, the level of accuracy for each category is at the “order of magnitude” (± 50%).
Main equipment CAPEX is estimated using internal databases (Provided by Soutex) and equipment quotes when available. Factors were then determined to establish the cost of both direct and indirect costs. STET specific CAPEX values also include secondary equipment and controls, justifying a lower factorization for installation and construction for this piece of equipment. The OPEX estimation is composed of maintenance, manpower, power and consumable costs. The technical elements provided by the process flowsheet support the cost evaluation both in terms of CAPEX and OPEX, and cost elements related to the installation and use of STET tribo-electrostatic belt separator were estimated using STET database of completed projects and iron ore bench scale test work.
The figures used in the following cost evaluations are derived from Figure 4. As an example, for the typical ore tested with two-pass of concentration and increase of 15% in iron grade (i.e. from 50% Fe to 65% Fe) would cost around 135 000$ per ton/h in CAPEX and 2$/t in OPEX (tons of iron concentrate). As this was intended as a screening study, it was decided to remain conservative on the product pricing and to perform sensitivity analysis versus the final grade and product price. As of November 2019, 62% Seaborne iron ore trades around 80USD/t, with a very high volatility.
The premium on iron ore unit concentrate is also very volatile and depends on many factors such as contaminants and the needs from a specific customer. The price difference between 65% iron and 62% iron is constantly changing in time. In 2016, the difference was minimal (around 1 $/t/%Fe) but in 2017-2018, the premium climbed close to 10 $/t/%Fe. At the time of this writing, it is currently around 3 $/t/%Fe [10]. Table 4 shows selected design criteria used for the costing estimation.
Table 4. Assumptions for Economic Evaluations.
The payback time is estimated from the first year of production. For each project, an additional two (2) years should be considered for the construction. The cash flow values (expenses and revenue) are discounted from the beginning of the construction.
4.0 Beneficiation process in a DSO dry operation
Direct shipping ore (DSO) projects produce the biggest volume of iron ore in the world, primarily feeding the Chinese market and most of the volume comes from Western Australia (WA) and Brazil. In 2017, the volume of iron ore produced in WA exceeded 800 million tons and Brazil’s volume was around 350 million tons [11]. The beneficiation processes are very simple, consisting mostly of crushing, washing and classifying [12].
Beneficiation of ultra-fines to generate a 65% Fe concentrate is an opportunity for the DSO market. The approach taken for evaluating the STET technology benefits for DSO projects is a trade-off between producing existing low-grade iron ultra-fines and an alternative of producing a product with added value after STET beneficiation. The flowsheet proposed (Figure 5) considers a fictional DSO operation in WA that would currently export among its products ultra-fines at 58% Fe. The alternative would concentrate the ultra-fines in order to increase the value of final product. Table 5 presents some of the design criteria and the high-level mass balance used in the estimation of revenue. The orebody in terms of grade and capacity does not represent an existing project but rather a typical DSO project in terms of size and production.
Table 5. Ultra-fine DSO Beneficiation Plant Design Criteria and Mass Balance.
Figure 5. Flowsheets Compared in the DSO trade-off
Table 6 presents the high-level CAPEX, OPEX and estimated revenues. The CAPEX estimate includes the addition of a new dedicated load-out system (loadout silo and car loading), as well as the STET system. In order to evaluate the return of the proposed flowsheet, the economic analysis is made around a trade-off between the beneficiation case and the sale of a low-grade product. In the beneficiation case, the volume is reduced but the premium on iron units increases the sale price significantly. In the OPEX, an estimation is provided for the upstream ore processing (mining, crushing, classifying and handling).
Despite reducing the volume significantly, the return is interesting given the premium on high grade iron ore concentrate. The return calculation is highly dependent on this premium, which has been increasing in the last few years due to environmental issues. As demonstrated above (Table 6), the economic attractiveness of such a project is highly dependent on the price difference between 58% iron and 65% iron. In this current evaluation, this price premium was 30.5 $/t, which reflects approximately the current market situation. However, this price premium has historically ranged from 15 – 50 $/t.
5.0 Scavenging Process in a Gravity
Separation Plant
Iron concentrators in the North America region use gravity concentration which is an efficient way of concentrating hematite and magnetite, especially for the size fraction above 75μm [5,13]. Hematite/magnetite plants in this region typically use spirals as the primary separation process and also incorporate Low Intensity Magnetic Separation steps (LIMS). A common issue across hematite/magnetite plants is the recovery of fine iron as the iron tailings amounts often reach levels as high as 20%. The main challenge is related to fine hematite, as the fine iron can hardly be recovered by spirals and is impervious to LIMS used to recover fine magnetite. In contrast, the STET separator is highly effective at separating fine particles, including particles below 20µm microns where LIMS and spirals are less effective. Therefore, the overflow from a cleaner hydrosizer (hindered settler) feeding scavenger spirals is a good fit for STET technology. The proposed flowsheet is presented in Figure 6.
In this configuration, the red dash line highlights new equipment within an existing plant. Under the proposed flowsheet, instead of being recirculated, the hindered settler overflow would be processed by scavenging spirals operating at different conditions than rougher spirals. A fine iron concentrate could be produced and dried. The dried concentrate would then be directed to the STET separator in order to produce a final concentrate of salable grade. The fine product could be marketed separately or together with remaining concentrator production.
Table 7 presents the design criteria and the high-level mass balance used in the estimation of revenue.
Table 8 presents the high-level CAPEX, OPEX and estimated revenues.
This analysis indicates that the return of implementing a scavenging circuit involving STET technology is attractive and warrants further consideration.
Another advantage of drying the fine iron concentrate when comparing to competing technologies is the associated benefit resulting from material handling following concentration. Very fine wet concentrate is problematic regarding filtering, handling and transport. Freezing problems in trains and fluxing in boats renders the drying of very fine concentrate sometimes mandatory. STET embedded drying could therefore become advantageous.
6.0 Beneficiation of Brazilian Tailings
Deposit
Beneficiation of fine tailings appears as a value-added application for processors to valorize the STET technology, as the resource is finely ground and available for low cost. While iron ore tailings deposits bearing high levels of iron are present in many places, locations where the logistics are simple should be privileged for further evaluation. Brazilian deposits containing high Fe grades and strategically located near existing transport infrastructure could represent a good opportunity for processors to benefit from the implementation of STET tribo-electrostatic technology. The flowsheet proposed (Figure 7) considers a fictional Fe-rich Brazilian tailings operation in which STET technology would be the only beneficiation process.
The deposit is considered to be large enough to provide decades of feed at a yearly rate of 1.5 M ton/year. For this scenario, the feed ore is already finely ground with a D50 of ~50µm and the ore would need to be shoveled, transported and then dried before tribo-electrostatic beneficiation. The concentrate would then be loaded on trains/ships and the new tailings would be stockpiled in a new facility.
Table 9 presents the design criteria and high-level mass balance used in the estimation of revenue. Table 10 presents the high-level CAPEX, OPEX and estimated revenues.
As demonstrated in Table 10, the return of implementing STET technology for the beneficiation of Brazilian tailings is attractive. Moreover, from an environmental standpoint the proposed flowsheet is also beneficial insomuch as the beneficiation of dry tailings would reduce tailings size and surface and would also reduce the risks associated with wet tailings disposal.
7.0 Discussion and Recommendations
The STET separator has been successfully demonstrated at bench scale to separate fine iron ore, therefore offering processors a novel method to recover fines that would otherwise be difficult to process to sellable grades with existing technologies.
The flowsheets evaluated by STET and Soutex are examples of iron ore processing which may benefit from dry triboelectrostatic separation. The three (3) developed flowsheets presented in this study are not exclusive and other alternatives should be considered. This preliminary study indicates that scavenging processes involving low drying costs, DSO operations and tailings beneficiation have a good chance of commercial success.
Another advantage in dry processing is on the tailings storage – which are currently stored in huge tailings ponds – as dry tailings would have the advantage of eliminating an important environmental risk. Recent and well publicized tailings dam failures highlight the need for tailings management.
The inputs to this study used to calculate iron ore grade and recovery were bench scale separation results using iron ore samples from multiple regions. However, the mineralogy and liberation characteristics of each ore is unique, therefore customer iron ore samples should be evaluated at bench or pilot scale. In a next step of development, the three flowsheets evaluated in this paper should be studied in further detail.
Finally, other technologies are currently under study for fine iron recovery such as WHIMS, Jigs and reflux classifiers. It is already known that many wet separation processes become inefficient for particles under 45μm and therefore STET technology might have an advantage in the very fine range, as STET has seen good performances with feed as fine as 1μm. A formal trade-off study comparing the cited technologies with STET should be conducted, which would include performance assessment, capacity, cost, etc. In that way the best niche for STET could be highlighted and refined.
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