Flowsheet plant tests

Extensive laboratory testing was performed on the Greenbushes gravity tailing, followed by pilot plant testing at the mine site. The generalized final flowsheet, evaluated in the pilot plant tests, is shown in Figure 23.5. 

In addition to collection of comprehensive distribution data, Schulz s investigations embraced ways of purifying commercial-grade DHDECMP, alpha radiolysis of DHDECMP-CCI4 solvents, and mixer-settler flowsheet tests with both synthetic and actual CAW solutions. Collectively, results of this research clearly demonstrated the many advantages of substituting DHDECMP for DBBP. Shutdown of PRF Am(III) extraction operation in 1976 prevented follow-on plant tests of the DHDECMP flowsheet. 

A continuous pilot plant test of the flowsheet (Figure 6) was established at SGS Minerals. The first four steps in the process, PLATSOL , PGM cementation, copper concentrate enrichment and copper precipitation were included in the continuous run. The copper depleted solution from copper precipitation was collected and a series of batch tests were used to complete the remaining flowsheet steps. The step by step results of the testing are summarized below. 

Because there are no similarities in the ore or cassiterite flotation pulp in the world, it is the requirement that the flowsheet and reagent scheme usually be custom-made for each particular case. Great care should be exercised in order that laboratory testing duplicate the commercial plant conditions, which is quite a difficult task. 

Law, J.D., Wood, D.J., Herbst, R.S. 1997. Development and testing of SREX flowsheets for treatment of Idaho Chemical Processing Plant sodium-bearing waste using centrifugal contactors. Sep. Sci. Technol. 32 C1 —4) 223-240. 

Flowsheet testing and data collection were performed using the General Atomic Company solvent extraction pilot plant equipment shown in Figure 1. Included in this equipment are several 5.1 to 7.6 cm (2 to 3 in.) diameter cylindrical glass pulse columns, a 15-2 cm (6 in.) diameter annular pulse column, a centrifugal contactor (Robatel Co.) and associated tanks, feed systems and concentrators. 

Fully equipped facility with the capabilities to perform complex material and process testing and evaluations as well as simulating complete flowsheets that can be assembled to represent a commercial plant with many different unit operations. The test center is designed to perform comminution, agglomeration, and thermal processing studies.)... 

In outline, reprocessing was based on disassembly of the fuel assemblies to individual pins, single pin cropping, dissolution in nitric acid and operation of a Purex-type flowsheet in a chemical separation plant equipped with pulsed mixer settlers. The modified dissolver cell and solvent extraction plant were recommissioned late in 1979 and were tested in reprocessing of the final batches of DFR fuel. The new head-end facility, to disassemble the PFR fuel assemblies and to crop the pins, and the new waste treatment facilities were commissioned in 1980 reprocessing of the first batches of PFR fuel began later that year. 

HRE-2 chemical processing plant. An experimental facility to test the solids-removal processing concept has been constructed in a cell adjacent to the HRE-2. A schematic flowsheet for this facility is shown ill Eig. 6-5. 

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