There is still a big gap between the mature technology and equipment of color sorters in China and those abroad

The sorting technology of quartz sand color sorter is a physical sorting method that can be identified by various detection methods according to the difference of easily detected physical properties (optical, radioactive, magnetic and electrical properties) reflected by different ore components, and can separate the ore or waste rock by certain external forces.

The belt feeding system accelerates the ore for a certain distance to make it pass through the radiation detection area stably. The belt feeding system designed by the ore sorter of Beijing Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy has the characteristics of stable feeding, multiple types of materials transported, large installation space for irradiation and detection systems, and large ore feeding volume; The ore feeding speed can be adjusted within the range of 2-5m/s to meet the working requirements of the detection and separation system.

This kind of ore feeding system is also widely used abroad. For example, the ROM series separator produced by Commodas in Germany also uses this method to feed. The maximum belt speed can reach 6m/s. When separating 6-75mm sized ores, the processing capacity can reach 100t/h.

In terms of application of X-ray fluorescence sorting technology, domestic ore sorting researchers, combined with Russian X-ray radiation sorters, have carried out industrial test research in domestic metal mines. For example, in 2008, a key mine in Henan Province first used the separator to increase the grade of raw key ore from 0.167% to 0.217%, with an average enrichment ratio of about 1.3.

With the continuous development and application of the picking technology, the variety of detection technology is increasing, the response ability of the separation execution system is increasing, the single machine processing capacity is increasing, and the range of materials that can be sorted and the size of particles that can be sorted are expanding. It is expected that in the next five years, the main work will focus on improving the sorting accuracy, reducing equipment costs, expanding the sorting of minerals and promoting industrial applications.

Although the research work in China has been carried out very early, there is still a big gap between mature technologies and equipment and their applications in China and foreign countries. Moreover, due to the complexity and difficulty of domestic ores, it also brings many problems for research, development and application of sorting technologies and equipment. At present, domestic mining enterprises are generally facing the pressure of cost, consumption reduction and environmental protection, which will create a good environment for the research and development of sorting technology and equipment suitable for the national conditions.