Hydrochloric acid leaching oxidized cobalt-copper ores, Germanium bearing slag and gold bearing material
Research members: Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi, Michel Kalenga, Clotilde Apua, Shalli Camillo
Details of projects:
This project is split into two parts. The first involves a Masters degree student (Clotilde Apua) dealing with the dissolution of oxidized cobalt-copper ores and gold bearing materials while the second involves a B-tech student Shalli Camillo (co-supervised by M. Kalenga) who is looking at the dissolution of germanium both using an in-situ reducing or oxidizing agent.
Project leader : Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi- amulaba@uj.ac.za
Microwave assisted value liberation from Nkomati tailings and ores
Research members: Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi, Mapilane Madiba, Mokoena and Ike
Details of project:
The project which is a Masters degree student research work (Mapilane Madiba) aims at recovering Ni values from the tailings. Preliminary results are promising and a comparison with the three conventional feeds will be made. Microwave pretreatment is used and its effect is assessed on the flotation responses. The student will complete her work this year (2010). Two B-Tech students Mokoane and Ike are looking at a corollary of the project where gravimetric and magnetic separation techniques will be used.
Project leader : Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi- amulaba@uj.ac.za
Themes of research. Impact of physico-chemical and metallurgical properties of ferrosilicon on diamonds recovery.
Research members: Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi, Thato Ralebakeng
Details of projects:
A Masters degree research work conducted by Thato Ralebakeng under the supervision of Prof. Mulaba aims at assessing the effect of contaminants on Fe-Si, erosion of Fe-Si, shape and size of Fe-Si on alluvial as well as kimberlitic diamonds materials. In addition to synthetic materials, feeds were supplied kindly by Truscan mining (Vendersdorp) and Mintek. A draft of a journal article is ready for submission to a journal while a paper was read by the postgraduate student (Thato Ralebakeng) at the Chemical Engineering National conference in Stellenbosch.
Project leader : Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi- amulaba@uj.ac.za
Use of Neural Network to simulate ion exchange process using activated natural zeolite
Research members: Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi, John Kabuba
Provide details of projects: This is a Doctorate project by John Kabuba where previously collected ion exchange data (within our mineral processing and technology research group) will be used to build a neural network three layers models to predict the process under specific conditions. The work has just started.
Project leader : Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi- amulaba@uj.ac.za
Themes of research. Geometallurgy of oxidized cobalt-copper ores
Research members: Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi, Joe Ndolomingo, Prof. F. Vijleon (Geometallurgy chair, geology department, UJ)
Details of projects:
This project involves a Masters degree student (Joe Ndolomingo) dealing with the geo-metallurgy study of oxidized cobalt-copper ores and trying to link it to the observed behavior in the dissolution of copper, cobalt and the flotation of their minerals. This work aims at conducting a detailed mineralogy of the ores. This aspect has just being researched in details while preliminary data on leaching and flotation were collected by previous students. The emphasis is put on the microwave value liberation.
Project leader : Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi- amulaba@uj.ac.za
Flotation of cobalt bearing minerals from oxidized cobalt-copper ores
Research members: Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi, Des Bell, Eric Numbi
Details of projects:
Oxidized cobalt-copper ore are being investigated in terms of the floatability of cobalt and copper minerals. Microwave pretreatment is the key as an attempt to value liberation. An attempt to optimally float cobalt bearing minerals from different types of oxidized ore was made by Des Bell for his Masters degree studies where the high cobalt materials ~30% Co responded satisfactorily to the flotation of a diluted feed without microwaving. Eric Numbi, a B-Tech student compared the use of different collectors on materials of diverse mineralogy with and without microwaving. Interesting results are obtained by Eric Numbi (in his B-Tech work) who is finalizing a draft of a journal article to be submitted for publication by the end of March 2010.
Project leader : Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi- amulaba@uj.ac.za
Coal discards beneficiation
Research members: Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi, Grace Kapisha, Glaise –Aubrey Mamboundou
Details of projects:
The project was carried out by two B-tech students who used on one hand flotation process ( Glaise- Aubrey) to try to remove/ concentrate pyrite from the coal discards on the other hand a set of gravimetric methods (Grace Kapisha) to remove heavy components. The idea is to extract elemental sulfur leading to the production of sulfuric acid. This project would culminate into a Masters degree or a doctorate..
Project leader : Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi- amulaba@uj.ac.za
Strategies for socio-economic growth in the Small Scale mining in Qwaqwa
Research members: Prof. Antoine F. Mulaba-Bafubiandi, Isaac Tshabalala
Details of projects:
The project emanates from our research trust in Small Scale mining which is for us as a community engagement activity. An assessment of the economic activities as triggered by small scale mining was made in Qwaqwa where sandstones and clays are mined and commercialized in much more artisanal way. This study has led to the development of relevamt strategies to prompt and sustain economic growth as initiated by the small scale mining activities in the area. A postgraduate student successfully completed his MBA study while he worked on this topic initiated and supervised by Prof. A. Mulaba.