Froth Flotation (Sulphide & Oxide)

Froth Flotation (Sulphide & Oxide)

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Boiling Rougher Cells and High Clay Copper Ore (2 replies)

S
Steve
4 years ago
Steve 4 years ago

Hello,

my query has two volleys that may be related.

What are few tips for dealing with high clay copper sulfide ore in flotation. When we get batches of high clay ore, our recovery drops drastically, rougher cells start pulling more than usual. Rougher feed slurry would be very thick despite decent %solids and good grind (as per our target).

My second query is has anyone experienced boiling of rougher cells. Even with all air reduced, the cells would still be boiling. It is even more apparent in the rougher cells further down in the bank. And that leads to very unstable froth bed and rougher cells would be pulling very hard, way more than usual.

d
David
4 years ago
David 4 years ago

Hi Steve,

"Rougher feed slurry would be very thick despite decent %solids and good grind (as per our target)"

= please give me data. What % Solids? What P80?

"has anyone experienced boiling of rougher cells" = YES

"rougher cells would be pulling very hard, way more than usual" = Understood.

.... and this "rougher cells would be pulling very hard, way more than usual" is what results in "more apparent in the rougher cells further down in the bank".

 = = you pulled everything out. Your froth depth is now much too high. Too deep a froth will cause it to break/collapse on itself. Your cell look full, but it is all foam/froth.

TRY cutting frother in the front-end or lowering your pump levels from the front.

Cutting air is tricking as you need air for flotation. Therefore, try less frother & deeper froth from the start to slowdown your pull.

 

J
Jorge
4 years ago
Jorge 4 years ago

It is a little strange that the testing program did not test this kind of material. Based on my experience, when you are in the operation treating this unusual ore, one partial solution is to reduce the addition of frother, other thing to consider is the addition of collector ( e.g. xanthate), it will be necessary to increase the dosage in the rougher circuit. Clays take most of the collector, for that reason, it is important to add more xanthate. The percent solids at the rougher is other variable, depending on the type of flotation cell, it would be necessary to reduce the percent solids, e.g. 15% w/w.

If the rougher cells are boiling and the froth is very dark, it is important to consider the presence of any lubricant. One more time, try to monitor the addition of collector, the idea is to get stiff bubbles.

If you can minimize the problem in the rougher circuit, the operation of the cleaner circuit should not be very complicated. 

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