文摘
Microwave heating has been applied to improve the drying efficiency and reduce energy consumption in the dehydration of hydrometallurgy mud. Experiences of microwave drying of hydrometallurgy mud are optimized using response surface methodology. The effects of each factor and their interaction on the dehydration ratio are investigated, and a second-order polynomial model for dehydration ratio is established. The optimized microwave drying conditions are as follows: sample mass 28.89g, microwave power 630.56W and drying time 3.17min. The predicted dehydration ratio of hydrometallurgy mud is 99.62%, which is closed to the averaged experimental value of 99.36% under the optimal conditions, indicating that regressive equation is fit for the dehydration ratio perfectly. Particle analysis suggests that the size distribution of materials using microwave heating is more even than that in an oven. The technology has great significance to shorten drying time and to reduce the energy loss for the industrial application. Keywords Hydrometallurgy mud Microwave heating Dehydration Response surface methodology (RSM)