STET yashinda "Karatasi Bora" katika Mkutano wa Kimataifa wa ICSOBA

Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the ICSOBA (International Committee for Study of Bauxite, Alumina & Aluminum) Annual Conference and Exhibition that was scheduled to be held October 12-16, 2020 in Jinan, Shandong Province, China, was rescheduled to a virtual event held November 16-18.

But that didn’t stop ST Equipment & Technology from scooping up the Best Paper Award in the Bauxite Category for their presentation on Dry Beneficiation of Bauxite Minerals Using a Tribo-Electrostatic Belt Separator.” According to the judges, given the breadth, diversity, and quality of the nominations, picking the winning entries in each of the four categories—Bauxite and Alumina, Bauxite Residue, Carbon, and Electrolysis—was an extremely difficult task.

Dodoma ICSOBA Annual International Conference and Exhibition bring experts from around the world together to examine “mine to metal” industry-driven technology, involving participants from the university level, as well as equipment and service providers, to provide a unique forum for discussions and exchanges of ideas.

This was the perfect forum for ST Equipment & Technology to present how our tribo-electrostatic belt separator is ideally suited for beneficiating very fine to moderately coarse mineral particles, with very high throughput. Key points to the paper authored by Kyle Flynn (Director, Maendeleo ya biashara), Lucas Rojas Mendoza (Process Engineer), Frank Hrach (Vice President, Mchakato wa uhandisi), and Abhishek Gupta (Meneja, Mchakato wa uhandisi) included:

  • The capability of the STET separator to beneficiate bauxite samples by increasing available alumina while simultaneously reducing reactive and total silica.
  • A method to upgrade and preconcentrate bauxite deposits for use in alumina production.
  • Water-free processing that results in a reduction in operating costs of refinery due to lower consumption of caustic soda.
  • Savings in energy due to a lower volume of inert oxides.
  • A reduction in the volume of alumina refinery residues (ARR or “red mud”).
  • Increased quarry reserves.
  • An extension of red mud disposal site life.
  • Extended operating life of existing bauxite mines by improving quarry utilization and maximizing recovery.
  • The manufacture of cement clinker in high volumes without pretreatment, in contrast to red mud which has limited beneficial reuse.

The best paper category winners were chosen based on:

  • Contribution to new technology or significant improvement of existing technology.
  • Potential utilization by industry
  • Extensive documentation
  • Excellence of presentation

Vifaa vya ST & Technology is proud to have been recognized for our work in providing a unique beneficiation process that is both beneficial to mining operations and the environment. We will continue to lead the charge in making the world a better place for everyone.