358 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
radial positions closest to the feed, demonstrating that this
is where the separation occurs. By distance from the cone,
between 70 and 80% of the mass is in the ring closest to
the cone, where little separation was observed, particularly
at low speeds.
These results suggest that the centrifugal separator is
effective at separating particles by size in the regions closest
to the feed point, with the coarsest particles being collected
nearest to the feed point, and the finer particles travelling
further on the cone. This is in line with previous findings
for finer particles. This is the first time that such a separa-
tor has been demonstrated for lunar regolith simulant with
added coarse particles, and shows the potential for further
development. It should be noted, however, that there are
numerous design variables in order to improve separation
of particles and mass recovery in defined regions. It must
also be established what is an acceptable separation is for
example, is there a requirement for all coarse particles to
be removed, or is a certain proportion acceptable, and how
does this impact the design of the equipment, including
potential recycle or secondary processing streams.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the differences between terrestrial mineral
processing approaches and technologies and those for space
resources, specifically the Moon, are discussed. While ter-
restrial mineral processing flowsheets and technologies are
guided by defined targets, this is not the case for space
resources. Low TRL, poor resource knowledge, and unrepre-
sentative samples returned in the Apollo era mean that ben-
eficiation processes for ISRU must be designed accordingly.
Figure 8. Difference in recovery of +1 mm and –1 mm particles by zone and by ring at difference rotational speeds
Figure 9. Total mass recovery of particles by zone and by ring. Recoveries are given with 95% confidence intervals
radial positions closest to the feed, demonstrating that this
is where the separation occurs. By distance from the cone,
between 70 and 80% of the mass is in the ring closest to
the cone, where little separation was observed, particularly
at low speeds.
These results suggest that the centrifugal separator is
effective at separating particles by size in the regions closest
to the feed point, with the coarsest particles being collected
nearest to the feed point, and the finer particles travelling
further on the cone. This is in line with previous findings
for finer particles. This is the first time that such a separa-
tor has been demonstrated for lunar regolith simulant with
added coarse particles, and shows the potential for further
development. It should be noted, however, that there are
numerous design variables in order to improve separation
of particles and mass recovery in defined regions. It must
also be established what is an acceptable separation is for
example, is there a requirement for all coarse particles to
be removed, or is a certain proportion acceptable, and how
does this impact the design of the equipment, including
potential recycle or secondary processing streams.
CONCLUSIONS
In this study, the differences between terrestrial mineral
processing approaches and technologies and those for space
resources, specifically the Moon, are discussed. While ter-
restrial mineral processing flowsheets and technologies are
guided by defined targets, this is not the case for space
resources. Low TRL, poor resource knowledge, and unrepre-
sentative samples returned in the Apollo era mean that ben-
eficiation processes for ISRU must be designed accordingly.
Figure 8. Difference in recovery of +1 mm and –1 mm particles by zone and by ring at difference rotational speeds
Figure 9. Total mass recovery of particles by zone and by ring. Recoveries are given with 95% confidence intervals