Dense Medium Separation

Dense medium separation is the gravity concentration process in which minerals are separated in a medium whose density is greater than that of water (dense medium). Based on the differences in densities of the mineral particles, a medium whose density is in between different minerals is used to create floating or sinking effect through the Archimedes principle, so as to enrich or purify the valuable components in minerals and obtain concentrate. Dense medium can be dense liquid or dense suspension liquid. Dense liquid is an organic liquid with high density or an aqueous solution of inorganic salt. Dense suspension liquid is a mixed suspension liquid of densifying material (mostly the separated concentrate of magnetite and ferrosilicon) and water. Dense liquid is toxic and costly, so it is only used in laboratories. Dense suspension liquid is from many sources, nontoxic, and widely used industrially. Besides, the densifying material that is fluidized by using air as dispersant can also...