Understanding multiphase particulate systems is essential for the further advancement of mineral processing technology. Characterisation, analysis, and simulation of these complex systems provide a fundamental basis for the development of improved mineral processing technology. One of the more recent tools that can be used to help provide a foundation for improved mineral processing technology is high resolution cone beam X-ray micro computed tomography (CT)._x000D_
During the past ten years point-projection X-ray micro CT systems have been used for 3D visualisation and quantitative analysis of multiphase particulate systems. Analysis of packed particle beds containing as many as 30000 particles can be accomplished in less than three hours with special software to establish the 3D characteristics of each particle in the population and the spatial organisation of the packed particle bed. Now, due to advances in X-ray optics, the resolution afforded with point-projection micro CT systems has been improved by at least an order of magnitude using a lens-based X-ray micro CT system. The development of software tools for the 3D characterisation, analysis, and simulation of packed particle beds using high resolution X-ray micro tomography (HRXMT) is discussed including examples of application in the areas of comminution (particle damage and preferential grain boundary fracture), exposure/liberation analysis (liberation-limited separation efficiency, including coal washability), and filtration/heap leaching (pore network structure of packed particle beds and simulated flow using the LB method of computational fluid dynamics)._x000D_
CITATION:Miller, J, 2010._x000D_
Characterisation, analysis and simulation of multiphase particulate systems using high resolution x-ray micro tomography (HRXMT), in Proceedings XXV International Mineral Processing Congress (IMPC) 2010, pp 77-90 (The Australasian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy: Melbourne).