• Resources Recycling
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.77-85
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• 2010

This study was carried out to develop a process flow sheet for recovering valuables (gold and high purity silica) from the gold mine tailings containing 1.7 g/ton of gold and 79.48 wt.% $SiO_2$. Float-sink tests using heavy liquids was conducted to explore the possibility of recovering gold by gravity separation. Hydrocyclone, froth flotation, and triboelectrostatic separatoin tests were conducted to recover high purity silica from the gold mine tailings. The results of float-sink tests showed that particles containing 5.58 g/ton of gold could be obtained at 2.72 specific gravity, but with very low yields around 3%. Meanwhile, all tests with hydrocyclone, froth flotation, and triboelectrostatic separation showed that high purity silica with $SiO_2$ content over 90% could be obtained. The purity could be improved further up to about 94% by employing several recleaning steps in the froth flotation and triboelectrostatic process.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.72-78
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• 2012

In general, recyclable items are separately discharged from households and then, hand-sorted into different types of valuables at materials recovery facilities (MRF). However, most of residues after hand-sorting are finally end up with landfill and/or incineration due to lack of separation technologies and economical reasons. In the present study, physical properties on recyclable items obtained from an MRF are investigated to improve the recovery of valuable items. The results of physical compositions based on the sizing tests are also presented.

• Resources Recycling
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• v.28 no.4
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• pp.51-58
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• 2019

Dismantlement of lithium primary batteries without explosion is required to recycle the lithium primary batteries which could be exploded by heating too much or crushing. In the present study, the optimum discharging condition was investigated to dismantle the batteries without explosion. When the batteries were discharged with $0.5kmol{\cdot}m^{-3}$ sulfuric acid, the reactivity of the batteries decreased after 4 days at $35^{\circ}C$ and after 1 day at $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. This result shows that higher temperature removed the high reactivity of the batteries. Because loss of metals recycled increases when the batteries are discharged only with the sulfuric acid, discharging process using acid solution and water was newly proposed. When the batteries were discharged with water during 24 hours after discharging with $0.5kmol{\cdot}m^{-3}$ sulfuric acid during 6 hours, the batteries discharged were dismantled without explosion. Because decrease in loss of metals was accomplished by new process, the recycling process of the batteries could become economic by the 2-step discharging process.