인도네시아 잠비산 복합 동광석을 대상으로 고품위 동 정광생산을 위한 부유선별 연구를 수행하였다. 본 연구에 사용된 시료는 대부분 탄산염인 공작석으로 이루어져 있으나, 일부 황화동이 존재하여 자연부유도가 높은 황화동을 먼저 부유선별에 의해 회수한 다음, 침강산물로부터 산화동 회수를 위한 공정을 적용하였다. 먼저 황화동 부유선별에서는 잔세이트(xanthate) 계열의 포수제인 AP-211과 AP-242를 1 : 1의 비율로 300 g/t 첨가하고, 광액 pH 6인 조건에서 Cu 품위와 회수율이 각각 57.7%와 9.5%인 동 정광을 얻었다. 그리고 침전된 산물을 대상으로 지방산 포수제인 올레인산을 300 g/t, 기포제 첨가량 50 g/t, 광액 pH 8.0, 그리고 정선횟수 2회인 조건에서 Cu의 품위와 회수율이 각각 30.8%와 92.1%인 결과를 얻었다. 회수된 황화동 및 산화동 정광을 합산한 결과 최종적으로 Cu의 품위와 회수율이 36.1%와 92.7%인 결과를 얻었다.

동원 NMC 선광장의 부유선별 프로세스를 유지하면서 광미여과액을 순환수로 활용하기 위한 pH 조절 연구를 수행하였다. 휘수연석(molybdenite)과 석영의 등전점(IEP)은 각각 pH 3 이하와 pH 2.7이었으며 안정화(분산)된 영역은 pH 5~10이었다. 순환수 현탁액의 경우, 잔류응집제의 의해 휘수연석의 제타전위는 pH 4 이상에서 -10 mV 이하로 감소하였다. pH 조절에 의한 부유선별 결과, 알칼리 영역에서 폴리머 사슬의 신장 및 확장, 칼슘 양이온(Ca2+)의 가교(ion bridge), 그리고 일부 무극성 폴리머/소수성 입자의 상호작용에 의한 응집 현상으로 부선효율이 급격히 저하되었다. 반면 약산성 영역(pH 5.5~6)은 수소이온에 의해 음이온성 폴리머가 중화되고 고분자 사슬의 기능이 약화됨에 따라 부선효율이 향상되었다. 조선부선 이후 정선부선의 최적조건인 pH 5.5, 포수제(kerosene) 20 g/t, 기포제(AF65) 50 g/t, 억제제(Na2SiO3) 300 g/t, 정선횟수 2회에서 Mo 품위와 회수율이 각각 52.7%와 90.1%인 최종 정광을 얻어 광미여과액을 분쇄-조선-정선 공정에 지속적으로 재활용할 수 있는 기술을 개발하였다.

The separation of TiO2 wastewater carried out by an electrocoagulation/flotation process, which had various operating parameters. The effect of electrode material (aluminum and four dimensionally stable electrode), applied current (0.07∼0.5 A), electrolyte concentration (0∼1 g/L), solution pH (3∼11), initial turbidity (1000∼20000 NTU) and suspended solid concentration (5000∼25000 mg/L) were evaluated. Turbidity removal efficiency of the soluble anode (aluminum), which could produce metal ions, was higher than that of the dimensionally stable electrode. Considering operation time, turbidity removal and electric power, optimum current was 0.19 A. The more NaCl dosage was high, the less electric power was required. However, optimum NaCl concentration was 0.125 g/L considered removal efficiency, operation time and cost. Initial TiO2 concentration did not affected turbidity removal on the electrocoagulation/ flotation operation. The electrocoagulation/flotation process was proved to be a very effective separation method in the removal of TiO2 from wastewater.

An effective technique of sludge separation is required for excess sludge of sewage or wastewater plant. The separation of bulking sludge of paper manufacturing plant was studied using DAF(Dissolved Air Flotation) system. The effects of parameters such as nozzle type, A/S(air/solid) ratio, pressure, injection time of pressured water and saturation time were examined. The results showed that the best nozzle type was flat which had small orifice hole. The optimum A/S ratio and pressure were 7.070×10-3(recycle ratio of pressured water : 20%) and 5 atm, respectively. Injection times of pressurized water around 20-25 sesc and flotation time of 30 min appeared to be optimal for the DAF operation. The order of performance of packing was 18 mm > 22 mm > 32 mm.

Waste sludge may be used to recovery wastewater contaminated with heavy metals. The waste sludge is an inexpensive readily available source of biomass for biosorption with metal-bearing wastewater. The biosorption of heavy metals such as Pb(II), Cu(II), Cr(II), and Cd(II) onto waste sludge was investigated in batch experiments and waste sludge loaded heavy metals was separated by dissolved air flotation. The biosorption equibria of heavy metals could be described by Langmuir and Freundich isotherms. The adsorption capacity for waste sludge was in the sequence of Pb(II)>Cr(II)>Cu(II)>Cd(II). The system attained equilibrium about 20 min. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption model effectively described the biosorption equilibrium of Cu(II) and Cr(II) ions on waste sludge. Maximum adsorption capacity of Cu(II) and Cr(II) were 196.08 and 158.73 mg/g, respectively. Solid-liquid separation efficiencies were kept above 95% on waste sludge loaded heavy metals, and were decreased with pH increasing.