Modeling of high-tension roll separator for separation of titanium bearing minerals

Abstract In this study, a three-level Box–Behnken factorial design combined with response surface methodology (RSM) for modeling and optimizing of process parameters of high-tension roll separator (HTRS), namely feed temperature, feed rate and roll speed for the separation of titanium bearing minerals (ilmenite and rutile) was developed. Second-order response functions were produced for the grade and recovery of the titanium bearing minerals in the conducting fraction. Taking advantage of the quadratic programming, optimized levels of the process variables have been determined as optimum levels to achieve the maximum grade of 98.7%, whereas the maximum level of recovery was 98.4% of titanium bearing minerals in the conducting fraction was predicted. The influence of the process variables of the HTRS on grade and recovery of the titanium bearing minerals in the conducting fraction was presented as 3D response surface graphs.