A theoretical approach to the magnetic flocculation of weakly magnetic minerals

Energy of interaction of a system of mineral paramagnetic and diamagnetic particles of colloidal dimensions is calculated under the influence of external magnetic field according to DLVO theory. Conditions of rapid flocculation into a potential well are derived in terms of threshold magnetic field as a function of particle size and magnetic susceptibility. The effect of surface potential, Debye-Hückel reciprocal length parameter and Hamaker constant is briefly discussed. The values of the flocculating magnetic field correspond more closely to reality than other theoretical models.     

A feasibility study simulating superconducting magnetic separators for weakly-magnetic ores

A “straight-wire” flow-through magnetic ore separator has been designed, built, and successfully used to separate magnetite from synthetic slurries. The purpose of these experiments was to simulate the field profile of a “straight-wire” superconducting magnetic separator which would be capable of separating weakly-magnetic hematite ore from typical slurries. Magnetite is used as the test mineral because it experiences the same magnetic forces at low field as does hematite at high field; thereby making possible less expensive low-field simulation.The present separator concept is based on the fact that there is a particle concentration profile due to the gravity field for low-velocity turbulent flow. When an upward magnetic force is applied, the concentration profile of magnetic particles can be reversed leaving the nonmagnetic particles flowing alone at the bottom of the channel. By means of a divider at the end of the channel, the concentrate is separated from the tailings. It is shown that the time needed to deflect hematite particles in a narrow cylindrical channel concentric with the superconducting wire is small enough so that high throughputs in the turbulent flow region are possible. In the case of a high-field superconducting separator, the centrifugal force could replace gravity by rotating the flow around a straight-wire conductor.     

An experimental and theoretical study of the seepage migration of suspended particles with different sizes

This study experimentally investigates the effect of particle size, particle concentration and flow velocity on the migration of suspended particles of size 1.02–47 μm in porous media. The results show that at the same flow velocity, the peak values of the breakthrough curves decrease and corresponding pore volumes increase slightly with increasing particles size. The migration velocity of smaller suspended particles is even greater than water flow velocity, which is attributed to the size exclusion effect. With increase of the injected particle concentration, the deposition coefficients of small single particles increase at first and then tend to a steady state or even decrease slightly, explained by the maximum retention concentration. The dispersivity of small particles decreases with increasing velocity. However, at a high flow velocity, the hydrodynamic dispersivity becomes increasingly dominant with the increase of particle size. The deposition coefficients for large-sized particles are higher than those for small-sized particles, which is attributed to considerable mass removal due to straining. An analytical solution, considering the release effect of sorbed particles, is developed to account for the one-dimensional flow and dispersive effect using a source function method, and then three transport parameters—dispersivity, deposition coefficient and release coefficient—are fitted using the experimental results. Finally, suspended-particle migration is predicted by the proposed model for short-time constant-concentration injection and repeated three-pulse injection. Overall, particle size has a significant effect on the seepage migration parameters of suspended particles in porous media such as the particle velocity, dispersivity and deposition coefficient.     

悬浮颗粒的浓度对其在饱和多孔介质中迁移和沉积特性的影响

多孔介质中悬浮颗粒迁移和沉积特性的研究对地下污染物净化、石油开采、核废料处置、水土保持等有很重要的意义。对4种不同浓度的悬浮颗粒在3种不同的渗流速度下进行室内试验,研究悬浮颗粒的浓度对其迁移和沉积特性的影响。结果表明,在一定的悬浮颗粒浓度下,随着渗流速度的增加,穿透曲线中的悬浮颗粒的相对浓度也增大。同时,渗流速度一定时,悬浮颗粒的浓度存在一个临界值,小于该临界值,穿透曲线中的相对浓度随悬浮颗粒的浓度增大而增大;大于该临界值时,相对浓度随悬浮颗粒的浓度增大而减小。另外,悬浮颗粒的临界浓度是与渗流速度相关的,随着渗流速度增加,悬浮颗粒的临界浓度也逐渐增大     

Rheology of aqueous magnetite suspensions in uniform magnetic fields

Non-magnetized suspensions of magnetite particles with concentrations in excess of 30% by mass and particle size less than 75 μm exhibit Bingham plastic behaviour. When exposed to external magnetic fields of strengths in excess of 41 × 10⁻⁴ T, the rheological behaviour of the suspensions departs from the Bingham model and can be described by a Herschel–Bulkley model of the form τ = τ₀ + kγⁿ. The value of the index n was found to range from 0.38 to 0.9, depending on the magnetic field strength, solids concentration and particle size and correlations are proposed for the apparent viscosity of magnetized suspensions as a function of magnetic field strength and solids concentration.     

Characterisation of sphalerite and pyrite flotation samples by XPS and ToF-SIMS

The surface analytical techniques of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) have provided information on the type and concentration of species on the surface of sphalerite and pyrite particles in flotation concentrate and tail samples, but also on their distribution on each particle and across particles of different sizes. From this surface analytical study, a more accurate interpretation of the flotation results of sphalerite and pyrite minerals in a mixed mineral system could be made as a function of the concentrations of copper sulphate activator and xanthate collector, and particle size. In particular, it was found that sphalerite particles reporting to the concentrate are larger in size and contain less iron hydroxide on their surface than particles reporting to the tail. As for the pyrite particles, their lower recovery than the sphalerite particles is the result of a larger proportion of iron hydroxide on their surface inhibiting copper and collector adsorption.     

风沙流中沙粒浓度分布的实验研究

利用粒子图像测速技术（PIV）,在风洞内对与天然沙接近的石英沙风沙流沙颗粒浓度沿高度分布进行了研究。对 3种不同轴线风速研究结果表明,风沙流中沙粒浓度沿水平方向基本不变,而随高度呈指数衰减,而且其衰减速率与风速密切相关。风速越大,衰减速率越慢;风速越小,衰减速率越快。风沙运动一旦发生时,靠近沙床表面的沙粒浓度随风速变化很小,可以认为趋于稳定,达到最大值。     

Magnetic tracing of sediment dynamics of mudbanks off southwest coast of India

In this study, we utilized environmental magnetic in combination with sedimentological and hydrodynamic data to investigate the formative processes of mudbanks along southwest coast of India. We document the linkages between enrichment of silt-sized magnetic particles and formation processes of mudbanks along Alappuzha coast. A trend of increasing magnetite concentration and coarsening in magnetic grain size is observed at mudbank stations M2 and M3, while the mud-deficient station (M1) showed an opposite trend. A strong relationship between magnetic and physical grain size for all samples implies that the magnetic particle size and clastic grain size are largely adjunct. Analysis of rock magnetic and grain size data of surficial and suspended sediments from non-mudbank (M1) and two mudbank stations (M2, M3) reflect the differential sediment partitioning and transport regimes which controlled the formation of mudbanks along Alappuzha coast. Two plausible mechanisms responsible for the formation of mudbanks are identified: grain size-selective entrainment is the dominant process during pre-monsoon; weaker hydrodynamics (waves and bottom currents) favors accumulation of silt-sized (fine and coarse) magnetic and non-magnetic fractions resulting in the formation of magnetically low-enriched sediment bed of mixed grain sizes. At the onset of monsoon, wave-induced energetic bottom currents enhance the suspension of entire sediment bedload at stations M2, M3 to form fluid mud. Concurrently, mineral-density-based selective fractionation allows the settling of coarse silt-sized magnetic particles, while the fine magnetic silt-size particles accumulate forming thick fluid mud as a suspension load resulting in the formation of mudbanks. An observed increase in magnetic susceptibility and coarsening in magnetic grain size of surficial sediments at mudbank stations (M2, M3) during monsoon period supports the interpretation. Our findings are summarized in a conceptual model which can be very well applied to investigate sediment dynamics associated with mudbank formation in coastal and shelf sedimentary systems.     

固液两相流体中的空泡振荡计算

本文导出了固液两相流体中球空泡的振荡方程,并用数值方法讨论了固体颗粒对它泡运动及泡壁压强的影响,得到了固相浓度、颗粒尺寸等因素与空泡运动之间的定性关系。在分析过程中,考虑了液体与颗粒之间力的双向耦合作用。     

Analogue study of particle segregation in pyroclastic density currents, with implications for the emplacement mechanisms of large ignimbrites

Abstract Analogue flume experiments were conducted to investigate the transport and sedimentation behaviour of turbulent pyroclastic density currents. The experimental currents were scaled approximately to the natural environment in three ways: (1) they were fully turbulent; (2) they had a very wide range of particle sizes and associated Rouse numbers (the ratio of particle settling velocity to effective turbulent eddy velocity in the current); and (3) they contained particles of two different densities. Two sets of surge‐type experiments were conducted in a 5 m long, water‐filled lock‐exchange flume at five different volumetric particle concentrations from 0·6% to 23%. In one set (one‐component experiments), the currents contained just dense particles; in the other set (two‐component experiments), they contained both light and dense particles in equal volume proportions. In both sets of experiments, the population of each component had a log‐normal size distribution. In the two‐component experiments, the size range of the light particle population was selected in order to be in hydrodynamic equivalence with that of the dense particles. Dense particles were normally graded, both vertically and downstream, in the deposits from both sets of experiments. The mass loading (normalized to the initial mass of the suspension) and grain size of the dense component in the deposits decreased with distance from the reservoir and were insensitive to initial total particle concentration in the currents. On the other hand, in the two‐component experiments, the light particles were extremely sensitive to concentration. They were deposited in hydrodynamic equivalence with the dense particles from dilute currents, but were segregated efficiently at concentrations higher than a few per cent. With increasing particle concentration, the large, light particles were carried progressively further down the flume because of buoyancy effects. Deposits from the high‐concentration currents exhibited reverse vertical grading of the large, light particles. Efficient segregation of the light component was observed even if the bulk density of the current was less than that of the light particles. In both sets of experiments, marked inflexions in the rate of downstream decline in mass loading and maximum grain size of the dense component can be attributed to the presence of two different particle settling regimes in the flow: (1) particles with Rouse numbers >2·5, which did not respond to the turbulence and settled rapidly; and (2) particles with Rouse numbers <2·5, which followed the turbulent eddies and settled slowly. The results are applied to the transport and sedimentation dynamics of pyroclastic density currents that generate large, widespread ignimbrites. Field data fail to reveal significant departures from aerodynamic equivalence between pumice and lithic clasts in three such ignimbrites: the particulate loads of some large ignimbrites are transported principally in turbulent suspensions of low concentration. In some ignimbrites, the well‐developed inflexions in curves of maximum lithic (ML) size vs. distance can be attributed to the existence of distinct high and low Rouse number particle settling regimes that mark the transition from an overcharged state to one in which the residual particulate load is transported more effectively by turbulence.     

A new fractal modification of ultrasonic attenuation model for measuring particle size in mineral slurries

Weight percentages of different size incremental particles in a mineral slurry is integrated into the ultrasonic attenuation model to derive a relation between ultrasonic attenuation and particle sizes. However, in the inertial and scattering regimes of frequency–radius space, irregularity and aggregation of particles can results in values of ultrasonic attenuation that are significantly different from those predicted by the derived model, which is based on the assumption of separated smooth spherical particles in mineral slurries. Experimental attenuation data obtained previously from mineral slurries of iron ores particles are compared with predicted values. It is shown that there is a negligible difference between predictions and experimental data. A new modification of theoretical model for ultrasonic attenuation is derived. The theory uses ωτ_v or κR as a fractal scale. It requires an empirical determination of the difference between the fractal dimension of the measured mineral slurry and that of a hypothetical slurry of spheres with the same particle size distribution. The new fractal modification of ultrasonic attenuation model is found to enable better agreement with measured attenuation as a function concentration for irregular particles than the theoretical model. Moreover, the fractal approach is found to discriminate between the effects of particle irregularity and aggregation.     

砂土颗粒三维形态的定量表征方法

颗粒形态是影响砂土力学特性的重要因素,特别是影响砂土在低应力状态下的抗剪强度、剪胀效应和临界状态行为,以及高应力状态下的颗粒破碎行为。因此,准确地重构砂粒的三维形态,并量化计算其形态表征参数是研究砂粒形态效应的前提工作。借助于高精度的CT扫描技术和图像处理技术,获得近海石英砂和风化花岗岩残积砂这两类砂土颗粒的三维形态信息。采用球谐函数序列实现两种砂颗粒三维形态的准确重构,并通过球谐函数分析计算砂土颗粒的体积来验证该方法的有效性。基于球谐重构的三维砂粒表面,提出了实用性的方法来计算砂粒的表面积、表面曲率和三维尺寸等,进而计算砂粒的三维球度、圆度和伸长率等形态表征参数。结果表明,当球谐函数阶达到15时,其重构的砂粒基本形状和表面纹理均与真实砂粒非常接近;近海石英砂在水流搬运和磨蚀的作用下颗粒形态较为规则和圆滑,球度和圆度较大,而风化花岗岩残积砂则在物理风化和剥蚀作用下颗粒形态较为复杂和粗糙,球度和圆度较小;而这两种地质作用对砂土颗粒的伸长率则没有明显的影响。     

坚硬致密弱研磨性地层孕镶金刚石钻头性能优化

基于金刚石钻头在坚硬致密弱研磨性地层钻进时易出现进尺效率低的现象,将SiC磨粒作为胎体耐磨损性弱化颗粒添加至胎体中,采用室内钻进及正交试验设计法从金刚石粒度、金刚石浓度、胎体耐磨损性弱化颗粒浓度、胎体硬度4方面对钻头性能进行优化,并探讨了钻进工艺参数对钻进效率的影响。结果表明:将适当材质的胎体耐磨损性弱化颗粒添加至钻头胎体中,能够有效提高钻头的钻进效率,避免钻头打滑的现象;胎体硬度HRC 25,金刚石粒度40/50目、金刚石体积分数55%,胎体弱化颗粒体积分数30%是本次试验最优的设计方案;在相同主轴转速条件下,轴向压力不宜超过3.5 MPa,在相同轴向压力的条件下,其主轴转速以750~850 r/min为宜。      

基于颗粒组构特性的散体材料本构模型研究

通过散体介质材料单元颗粒排列组构表达的细观结构力学关系,建立了用颗粒密集度、颗粒排列组构关系和颗粒间摩擦特性等非连续介质材料特性参数描述的散体介质材料本构模型,从而实现散体介质材料宏观连续介质描述的等效应力表达.通过该模型可采用数值方法进行散体介质材料准静态情况下的力学特性分析.文中最后基于有限元软件ABAQUS,进行了该本构模型的二次开发.数值算例结果验证了所建立散体介质材料本构模型的适用性.     

Transport and retention of microparticles in packed sand columns at low and intermediate ionic strengths: experiments and mathematical modeling

Functional relationships correlating particle filtration coefficients and porewater ionic strength are herein proposed and validated, based on deposition experiments of micrometer-sized particles onto siliceous sand. Experiments were conducted using one-dimensional laboratory columns and stable monodisperse aqueous suspensions of negatively charged latex particles with a mean size of 1.90 μm. The role of ionic strength was systematically investigated and six different monovalent salt concentrations (1, 3, 10, 30, 100, 300 mM) were employed by addition of sodium chloride to the aqueous solution. A mathematical advection–dispersion-deposition transport model was adopted assuming that attachment and detachment of particles in the porous medium are concurrent mechanisms of particle filtration, and including a Langmuir-type blocking function to account for availability in deposition sites. The system of equations modeling colloid transport was solved numerically. Attachment rate and detachment rate coefficients were thereby determined for each employed ionic strength, as well as a blocking coefficient in the form of a maximum particle concentration in the solid phase. Therefore, functional relationships expressing the dependence of these coefficients on ionic strength were proposed, based on literature findings and present experimental observations. The existence of a critical salt deposition concentration (and release concentration) separating a favorable attachment (and detachment) regime from an unfavorable condition is assumed. In respect to the blocking coefficient, a power–law dependence on ionic strength is hypothesized. The proposed functional relationships proved adequate to reproduce the coefficient trends extrapolated from data fitting by the transport model. They may represent a powerful tool to describe and predict microparticle mobility in saturated porous media if embedded a priori in the related mathematical transport models.     

Cause and prevention of well bore clogging by particles

Well bore clogging is caused by accumulation of particles on the well bore. However, all abstracted groundwaters contain particles, but not all wells clog. Apparently, clogging is not caused by the mere presence of particles, but other factors are also involved. Results from on-line well-head readings demonstrate that the clogging rate is not constant: the specific capacity decreases during long abstraction periods and remains constant during intermittent abstraction. Results of particle counts reveal that the particle concentration in the abstracted groundwater shows a peak immediately after switching on the well. This concentration peak is caused by the removal of particles from the well bore that accumulated during the preceding abstraction period. As long as all accumulated particles are removed, no clogging will occur; if not, clogging will occur. Consequently, well bore clogging can be prevented by switching the pump on and off with sufficient frequency to remove the particles accumulated on the well bore during the preceding abstraction period. Moreover, this explanation leads to additional recommendations for well operation, well construction and well design to prevent well bore clogging.     

罗布泊自生胶黄铁矿对磁性参数χARM/SIRM指示意义的影响

沉积物中磁性矿物的颗粒大小具有重要环境指示意义,是环境磁学研究的重要内容。磁性参数非磁滞剩磁磁化率/饱和等温剩磁（χ_ARM/SIRM）常被用于指示磁性颗粒大小,当沉积物磁性特征为较粗的多畴（MD）颗粒主导时表现为低值,而为较细的单畴（SD）颗粒主导时表现为高值。本研究对罗布泊盐湖LB剖面的沉积物进行了系统环境磁学测试,结果发现剖面中含有5个χ_ARM/SIRM值低于上覆层和下伏层的层位,指示其磁性颗粒较粗。但磁滞参数和扫描电镜结果显示这5个层位磁性颗粒明显细于上覆层和下伏层沉积物,显示χ_ARM/SIRM在这5个层位的指示意义失真。矿物鉴定结果显示这5个层位的主导磁性矿物为早期成岩成因的SD胶黄铁矿,赋存形态主要为颗粒团聚体、单颗粒或颗粒团聚体附着于硅酸盐矿物表面以及分布于薄片状硅酸盐内,这种赋存形态导致其具有较强的磁相互作用,并限制了χ_ARM的增加,最终造成χ_ARM/SIRM下降,指示意义失真。本研究显示当沉积物中存在胶黄铁矿等自生矿物时,利用比值参数χ_ARM/SIRM判断磁性矿物颗粒特征需谨慎。     

Ammonia adsorption and nitritation in sediments derived from the Three Gorges Reservoir,China

The influences of suspended particles (SPs) on NH₄ ⁺ adsorption and nitritation occurring in the water system of the Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR) were evaluated in this study. The results indicated that the adsorption of NH₄ ⁺ was significantly affected by the SPs concentration under the conditions typically present in the TGR. The amount of ammonia adsorbed per unit weight of suspended particles was inverse proportional to the concentration of suspended particles. However, the influences of the particle size and the organic matter concentration existing in SPs were insignificant under the experimental conditions. The effects of suspended particles on nitritation were determined by the use of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) strain SW16, identified as Nitrosomonas nitrosa, which was isolated from sediment samples of the TGR. Suspended particle concentration in water–sediment solution played an important role in the nitritation process. The rate of nitritation enhanced with the increase of the suspended particle concentration. It was found that the critical factor controlling ammonia oxidizing rate was the AOB biomass resulting from the AOB growth rate. Moreover, results demonstrated that both particle size and organic matter content showed little effect on the nitritation process under the experimental conditions.     

长江与黄河河口沉积物磁性特征对比的初步研究

根据2001年8月和9月分别采自黄河与长江河口沉积物样品的磁性测量和粒度分析,探讨长江和黄河河口沉积物的磁性特征及其差异。长江河口沉积物中亚铁磁性物质的含量高于黄河口,但长江口与黄河口沉积物中都是亚铁磁性矿物主导了样品磁性特征,亚铁磁性矿物晶粒都以假单畴-多畴为主。相比黄河口沉积物,长江口沉积物不完整反铁磁性物质对磁性特征的的贡献较小。长江与黄河河口的这种磁性特征主要反映了不同的沉积物来源的控制影响。此外,无论是长江口还是黄河口沉积物,磁性参数χARM、χfd%与沉积物细粒级组分存在显著的相关性,表明这两个参数作为粒度的代用指标具有普遍性。     

土体直剪力学特性颗粒尺度效应理论与试验研究

土体是一种颗粒物质,其强度与变形特性具有显著的颗粒尺度效应。根据土体颗粒间的连结性状和微重比,将土颗粒划分为基体颗粒与加强颗粒。构建了反映土体内部材料信息和颗粒特征信息的土体胞元,基于应变梯度理论建立可以描述土体颗粒尺度效应的土体胞元模型。设计一系列饱和重塑土的直接快剪试验以研究土体直剪力学特性的颗粒尺度效应,并定量计算了土体胞元模型的应变梯度和內禀尺度等微细观计算参数。试验结果表明,土体的剪切屈服应力随加强颗粒体积比和平均应变梯度的增加而增加,且与加强颗粒体积比呈近似线性关系,与平均应变梯度呈抛物线关系;加强颗粒粒径对土体的剪切屈服应力影响不明显。土体剪切屈服应力的试验结果与土体胞元模型的预测结果一致。