In recent years, with the strong rise of the new energy industry, related raw materials have received extensive attention. Among them, graphite, as an important battery anode material, is of great significance in the development of new energy, and its beneficiation technology and equipment have been greatly developed. The graphite ore beneficiation process mainly includes the stages of crushing, grinding and beneficiation. In this article, we will understand the equipment used in graphite ore beneficiation according to the main beneficiation process of graphite ore.
Use the table of contents below to navigate through the guide:
01Graphite ore crushing stage
Graphite ore is soft in nature. Generally, the hardness of graphite ore is medium-hard or medium-hard and soft. Therefore, the crushing process of graphite is relatively simple, and the crushing process that can usually be used includes two-stage one-closed-circuit crushing, two-stage open-circuit crushing or one-stage open-circuit crushing process. A small number of new graphite ore processing plants may also adopt a three-stage closed-circuit crushing process.
The first-stage crushing of graphite ore usually uses a jaw crusher. The secondary crushing can use a cone crusher to further reduce the particle size of graphite ore. Screening equipment can use circular vibrating screen.
02Crystalline graphite ore grinding stage
Since graphite has a flake structure, it is necessary to ensure that the graphite concentrate has as many large flakes as possible in the grinding stage to improve the large flake rate of the concentrate. At this stage, the shape of the grinding medium and the form of the mill have a great influence on the large flake rate of the graphite concentrate. In the selection of grinding equipment, rod mills, vertical stirring mills and other equipment can be selected as the main grinding equipment.
03Crystalline graphite ore beneficiation stage
According to the properties of raw graphite ore, the beneficiation of crystalline graphite can be divided into four types: coarse flake graphite ore, medium flake graphite ore, fine flake graphite ore, and cryptocrystalline graphite ore. Due to the different properties, the four types of graphite have different sorting methods, and flotation is the main sorting method.
①Coarse flake graphite ore has large graphite flakes and good floatability. The graphite particle size is generally 0.6~2mm, the graphite content is 1%~10%, and the raw ore contains a certain amount of mica. In the separation of this kind of graphite ores, the main purpose is to protect the large scales. The grade of graphite concentrate is above 87%.
②In the medium flake graphite ore, the raw graphite flakes are medium in size and have good floatability. The graphite particle size is 0.2~0.6mm, and the graphite content is 4%~15%. This kind of ore contains less mica, and the beneficiation is mainly to protect the existing graphite flakes and improve the yield of large flake graphite. Its graphite concentrate grade is controlled at 86% to 90%.
③ The graphite flakes of fine flake graphite ore are smaller, and the floatability is poorer than that of medium flake graphite. The particle size of graphite in the raw ore is 0.03~0.2mm, and the graphite content is 6%~15%. The selection of this kind of graphite ore is mainly to improve the purity of graphite. At the same time, the graphite flakes are protected from damage, which can reduce the requirement of graphite recovery rate. The grade of graphite concentrate is generally around 90%. Multi-stage grinding and multi-stage beneficiation process are often used in this kind of ore separation to strengthen the beneficiation process.
④ The graphite particle size of cryptocrystalline graphite is generally below 1 μm. Due to its fine graphite particle size, other beneficiation methods can also be used in addition to the flotation method, such as alkaline acid method, hydrofluoric acid method, high temperature purification method, etc.
In the process of graphite ore flotation, the flotation equipment selected can be aerated agitated flotation machine, mechanical agitated flotation machine, flotation column, etc. Among them, KYF-type flotation machine and XCF-type flotation machine can be selected for aerated stirring flotation machine, and SF-type flotation machine, JJF-type flotation machine, BF-type flotation machine, etc. can be selected for mechanical stirring flotation machine. Among them, the XCF flotation machine can form a flotation unit with the KYF flotation machine. The horizontal configuration of the flotation unit can be realized without the need to use a foam pump, and the capital construction cost required for the stepped configuration can be reduced.
The above is about the content of graphite ore beneficiation equipment. In actual beneficiation production, scientific and reasonable beneficiation process and beneficiation equipment should be determined according to the properties of graphite and the test results after beneficiation test, so as to ensure the economic benefits of the beneficiation plant and the rational utilization of resources.