The Interaction of Stress conditions, Engineered Artificial Minerals Structure and Formulation in Wet Comminution and Separation

Applicant Professorin Dr.-Ing. Sandra Breitung-Faes
Subject Area Mechanical Process Engineering
Term since 2021
Project identifier Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 470377913
 

Project Description

Slags sometimes contain some critical raw materials, which are only present in single-digit percentages. These raw materials are usaually bound in mineral form and, in some cases, have crystal sizes in the submicron range or are dendritically intertwined. Accordingly, processing down to this size range is necessary. In the project, this is carried out using a stirred ball media in wet mode. While the first project phase focused mainly on selective comminution and fracture mechanics, the second phase emphasizes the process integration of chemical leaching into the comminution step. The feasibility was already demonstrated in the first phase. These two process steps are conducted in the mill and combined with a microfiltration unit to achieve the most efficient recovery of valuable components. The optimization of this integrated process is to be complemented by process simulations.
DFG Programme Priority Programmes
Subproject of SPP 2315:  Engineered Artificial Minerals (EnAM) – a geo-metallurgical tool to recycle critical elements from waste streams