OPTIMIZATION OF SOME PARAMETERS OF HIGH TENSION ROLL SEPARATOR TO RECOVER TITANIFERROUS PLACER MINERALS

Year 2012, Volume: 4 Issue: 2, 9 - 25, 01.06.2012

T. Laxmi N. Aslan R. Bhima Rao

Abstract

In this study, a three-level Box-Behnken factorial design combined with response surface methodology (RSM) for modeling and optimizing of some process parameter of high tension roll separator for the separation of titanium bearing minerals (ilmenite and rutile) was developed. The three significant operational parameters of HTRS, which were feed temperature, feed rate and roll speed, were varied and the results evaluated with the Box-Behnken factorial design, Response Surface Methodology and also Quadratic Programming (QP). Second-order response functions were produced for grade and recovery and separation efficiency of the titanium bearing minerals in the conducting fraction. Taking advantage of the quadratic programming, it is observed that maximum grade of 98.76 % can be achieved at 123 rpm roll speed, 40 kg/h feed rate and 140˚C temperature. Maximum recovery of 99.06 % can be achieved at 180 rpm, 60 kg/h feed rate and 140˚C temperature. Similarly, maximum separation efficiency of 98.81% can be achieved at 120 rpm, 51.6 kg/h and 140 ˚C temperature using QP technique. Predicted values of responsesobtained using model equations were in good agreement with the experimental values (R value of 0.98 for grade, R2 value of 0.97 for recovery and R2 value of 0.93 for separation efficiency)

Keywords

Box-Behnken design, response surface methodology, optimization, high tension roll separator, titanium bearing minerals

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