Chemistry
Identifying raw material composition in large scale mineral processing
Calibrating infrared mineral analyzers with powder XRD data at the Swiss Light Source.
SpectraFlow Analytics sells online measurement solutions for the cement, iron ore, gold, platinum, copper, potash, coal and bauxite industries. The current installed base is more than 65 analyzers in 28 countries across the globe.
SpectraFlow systems are the only solution that can distinguish between different mineral phases, and give fast online real-time analysis in mineral processing environments.
The SpectraFlow Crossbelt Analyzer delivers real-time online analysis of raw materials on the conveyor belt. The analyzer is positioned after a crusher and its analytical results are used to optimise mine operations.
Airslides provide some of the most efficient and practical methods of conveying bulk powder material. With some low pressure air, an aeration bed and a small gravity incline, hundreds of tonnes of product can be carried over long distances. The SpectraFlow Airslide Analyzer is the only analyzer available to measure powders in an airslide.
Powder XRD supports near infrared spectral analysis calibration
SpectraFlow analyzers measure the mineralogical and chemical concentration of the raw material using near infrared (NIR) light to identify specific molecular fingerprints in the spectrum of reflected light.
Due to the different mineral and chemical compositions of the raw materials, each NIR analyzer must be individually calibrated for each location based on customer-specific reference samples.
NIR and powder x-ray diffraction (powder XRD) provide the same information - the crystallographic phases - allowing mineral structures to be identified.
SpectraFlow directly uses the high-resolution powder XRD phase analysis available at the Swiss Light Source for a very precise calibration input for their NIR analyzers.
Optimising new processes in partnership with ANAXAM
In partnership with the ANAXAM technology transfer centre for advanced manufacturing, SpectraFlow are building a tailor-made sample delivery system for powder XRD experiments. This novel infrastructure will increase the amount of sample being measured and increase sample throughput during diffraction measurements.
Through this partnership with ANAXAM, SpectraFlow will be able to continue improving its technology as well as develop new processes and industry applications.