The main factors affecting the efficiency of heavy media separation are the density, viscosity, and stability of the suspension. The density of the suspension increases with the volumetric concentration of the suspended matter. As the volumetric concentration increases, the viscosity of the suspension also gradually increases, increasing the resistance to particle movement and thus reducing separation accuracy and equipment efficiency. The smaller the particle size of the feed ore,
the lower the required suspension viscosity should be to facilitate rapid and accurate particle separation. Therefore, the concentration of the suspension must be within a suitable range.
Maintaining the stability of the suspension is also very important, as stability is key to maintaining a constant density. Due to the gravity of the suspended particles, sedimentation will occur, causing changes in the suspension density—the upper layer becoming smaller and the lower layer larger—affecting the normal progress of the separation process. In production, methods such as mechanical stirring or vibration, using rising or horizontal water flow, and adding appropriate stabilizers are often used to prevent sedimentation of the suspended matter.