Metals in organic and conventional wheat flours determined by an optimised and validated ICP‐MS method

This study was undertaken (i) to optimise and validate a suitable method for multi‐element determination in cereal products and (ii) to evaluate multi‐element content differences in commercially available conventional vs. organic wheat flours. Presented ICP‐MS method is simple and accurate for the determination of eighteen elements in cereal food. Obtained results show differences in metal content between conventional and organic wheat flours and confirm that both types of production are well within the toxicological safety limits regarding the metal contents. The significant differences among conventional vs. organic wheat flours were obtained for As, Cd, Cr, Fe, Mg, Mo, Ni and V. Toxic metals (Al, As, Cd and Pb) input was higher in conventional compared with organic wheat flours. However, further and long‐term research is needed to clearly underline the effects of organic agricultural practice on the quality of food products.     

Solubilisation of calcium and magnesium from the marine red algae Lithothamnion calcareum

Marine minerals are a potential source of calcium and magnesium for nutritional supplementation. This study analysed the solubilisation of calcium and magnesium from the skeletal remains of Lithothamnion calcareum. Scanning electron microscopy analysis demonstrated a nonporous microstructure. Spectrophotometric determination showed that the calcium and magnesium contents were 30.01 and 6.22% (w/w), respectively. Solubilisation of calcium and magnesium was highly pH dependent. The temperature‐dependent solubilisation of calcium fitted the shrinking core model. The apparent activation energy for calcium solubilisation was 28.6 kJ mol^?1. Inclusion of caseinophosphopeptides (CPPs), casein‐derived mineral binding peptides, during the solubilisation of calcium and magnesium appeared to decrease the extent of calcium solubilisation at pH 6.0 and 8.0. The results herein have implications for the choice of optimal pH conditions for the sustained release of calcium and magnesium from marine mineral sources.     

Effect of saline water on the flotation of fine and coarse coal particles in the presence of clay minerals

This research addresses two important issues confronting coal flotation plants in Australia, the use of saline water and the processing of clayey coal. Two coal samples obtained from BHP Billiton Mitsubishi Alliance (BMA) and Xstrata were tested to represent coarse coal flotation and fine coal flotation, respectively. Saline water with low, medium and high ionic strengths and individual electrolytes encountered in the flotation plants were used. It was found that saline water had a more pronounced effect on fine coal flotation than coarse coal flotation despite similar mineral compositions and clay mineral types present. Although saline water increased froth stability in both fine and coarse coal flotation, coal particle aggregation only occurred between fine coal particles resulting in an increased recovery of coal particles as well as the entrapment of fine gangue minerals.     

Managing clay minerals in froth flotation—A critical review

Clay minerals are widely present in various ore deposits as gangue minerals. The processing of high-clay-content ores is becoming a significant challenge for the mining industry owing to the poor flotation performance caused by the presence of clay minerals. Different types of clay minerals are typically present in ore bodies, and they cause several detrimental effects to flotation that require different treatments. In this article, a comprehensive review of the studies on understanding and mitigating the negative effects of clay minerals in flotation is presented. It starts with a review of the classification and structures of clay minerals commonly occurring in ore deposits and their properties that determine the behavior of clay minerals in flotation. It is followed by a critical review of two main negative effects of clay minerals on flotation, the recent research findings mainly from The University of Queensland group. The first negative effect is the coating of clay minerals on the surface of valuable minerals that decreases the floatability of valuable minerals. The second negative effect is the formation of network structures in the slurry. Depending on the type and strength of the network structure, it can cause either high pulp viscosity or increased gangue entrainment, which reduces the flotation recovery and flotation product grade, respectively. In this section, the mechanisms and key factors behind each negative effect are presented and critically discussed. Then, the approaches and techniques developed to mitigate the different negative effects of clay minerals are reviewed. To conclude, future directions for a more complete understanding of mechanisms and problem solving are recommended.     

Alkaline digestion of dunite for Mg(OH)2 production: An investigation for indirect CO2 sequestration

The sequestration of CO₂ by carbonating natural minerals has a great potential for secure reduction of net CO₂ emissions. Feedstock Mg–silicate minerals are usually converted into Mg rich solutions or Mg(OH)₂ before the carbonation process, due to the slow reaction kinetic of direct carbonation. The present work studied the alkaline digestion of Mg–silicate minerals into Mg(OH)₂ for CO₂ sequestration. Powdered dunite containing ∼73 ± 2 wt% of forsterite (Mg₂SiO₄) was dissolved using highly concentrated NaOH aqueous systems at 90 and 180 °C with varied NaOH concentration and duration of reaction. Thermal analysis and Rietveld Refinement Quantitative Phase Analysis (QPA) confirmed that an effective digestion of dunite was possible at 180 °C achieving 80 wt% of Mg(OH)₂. It was found that NaOH concentration in solution, temperature and duration of reaction significantly influence the progress of digestion.     

Electrostatic K-Feldspar/Na-Feldspar and Feldspar/Quartz Separation: Influence of Feldspar Composition

This article aims at contributing to the possibility of electrically separating K-feldspar/Na-feldspar and quartz/feldspar, investigating the behavior of mixtures composed of K-feldspar, Na-feldspar, and quartz concentrates. The findings highlight the importance of preheating the material and of interparticle contact. Tests conducted on binary mixtures of K-feldspar/Na-feldspar, K-feldspar/quartz, and Na-feldspar/quartz showed that it is possible to achieve satisfactory results in the separation of these species, by triboelectrical charging of the material, preheated to temperatures above 100°C, using a free fall chamber. Tests carried out on ternary mixtures have demonstrated that additional pretreatment with HF solutions improves the results.     

Effect of pulp rheology on flotation of nickel sulphide ore with fibrous gangue particles

Abstract

Tests are carried out with suspensions of fibrous chrysotile particles and nickel sulphide ore containing chrysotile as a gangue. They corroborate published results, and indicate a very strong effect of particle shape on slurry rheology. Such suspensions exhibit time dependent properties. The flotation tests revealed that the viscosity of this system strongly affects flotation performance. At a solids concentration of 15–20% (w/w), the concentrate yield increases and the concentrate grade dramatically declines. This deterioration is observed when the Casson yield stress exceeds 1·5–2 Pa. The tests imply that the rheological properties of the investigated system are mainly determined by fibrous components. However, because of the presence of anisotropic mineral particles, the effect of particle–particle interactions cannot be separated from the effect of particle shape in this system.

On effectue des essais avec des suspensions de particules fibreuses de serpentine et de minerai de sulfure de nickel contenant de la serpentine comme gangue. Ces essais confirment les résultats publiés et indiquent un effet très prononcé de la forme des particules sur la rhéologie de la boue. De telles suspensions exhibent des propriétés dépendantes du temps. Les essais de flottation ont révélé que la viscosité de ce système affecte grandement le rendement de la flottation. À une concentration en solides de 15 à 20% (poids/poids), la production de concentré augmente et la qualité du concentré décline dramatiquement. Cette détérioration est observée lorsque la contrainte de Casson excède 1·5 à 2 Pa. Les essais impliquent que les propriétés rhéologiques du système étudié sont déterminées principalement par les composantes fibreuses. Cependant, à cause de la présence de particules minérales anisotropes, on ne peut pas séparer l’effet des interactions particule-particule de l’effet de la forme des particules dans ce système.     

自然重砂数据处理流程及辅助工具开发

在自然重砂数据处理过程中,GIS是重要的常用工具之一,本文结合专业领域内数据处理需求和信息领域内的GIS二次开发技术,提出了一种高效、便捷的数据处理方法,通过在MapGIS软件平台下开发GeoTools软件工具,实现对自然重砂数据中的异常点数、平均值、最大值等特征参数进行批量计算及属性赋值,辅助完成自然重砂异常初步分级工作,收到了较为理想的效果。GeoTools软件工具在青海省和山西省的自然重砂资料处理的过程中进行了实际运用,取得了很好的效果,提高了工作效率及资料处理的精度和质量。GeoTools软件工具也可在MapGIS平台下对相关的资料进行处理和数据统计。     

滇西北普朗地区自然重砂矿物异常及其找矿意义

自然重砂及其组合蕴含着丰富的源区岩性体信息,为找矿勘查提供了丰富的矿源信息。已有地质勘查及研究主要集中在金、钨锡矿等,而对铜铅锌矿等其他矿种研究较少。针对铜铅锌矿种及其不同成因的矿床开展研究,通过普朗地区自然重砂矿物的类型及分布特点开展综合对比研究,挖掘其所蕴含的铜多金属成矿作用信息及找矿意义。普朗地区自然重砂矿物及其组合成片集中分布,其异常对已知区内铜多金属矿床具有良好的响应,体现出铜多金属成矿模式及成矿作用特点,反映具有成因意义的成矿作用信息,对区域矿产勘查具有良好的指示意义。