Assessment of a Hydrocyclone Performance for Classification of the Calcium Carbonate Slurry Feed

Abstract

In order to expand the knowledge on the use of hydrocyclones for the calcium carbonate slurry dressing, and feed the Neutralization plant from the acid pressure leaching process located in Moa, Cuba, a -0.84+0.15 mm sized slurry with less than 10 % (which is required for the metallurgical process), a pilot-scale test facility consisting of a hydrocyclone, a slurry storage tank and a centrifugal pump was installed. A type experimental design was developed for the test works to carry out eight experiments and four duplicates at the central level. The factors under study to observe its influence on the variable: response, the separation efficiency of -0,84+0,15 mm grain size were: percentage of sand) (18, 24, 30 %), percent solids (17, 21, 25 %) and pressure (10, 28, 46 PSIA [317,8; 193,2; 59,0 kPa]). The results indicated separation efficiency over 97,5 %. The use of hydrocyclones confirmed a high efficiency of separation for coarser particles in the classification of the calcium carbonated slurry.