On-line particle size analysis of mineral slurries is important because of the potential impact of size distribution on downstream processes, such as filtration and slurry thickeneing.

In the September 2003 issue of Filtration+Separation (pps. 36-37), Matti Kongas, of Outokumpu Technology, Finland, discusses existing on-line particle analysis technology and presents a new technique employing laser diffraction that is being successfully applied in the field.