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Peak Air Recovery: An investigation into the effect of particle size

Norori-McCormac, A; Hadler, K; Cilliers, JJ; (2014) Peak Air Recovery: An investigation into the effect of particle size. In: Yianatos, Juan and Doll, Alex and Kyvenhoven, Romke and Gomez, Cesar, (eds.) IMPC 2014 - 27th International Mineral Processing Congress. Gecamin: Santiago, Chile.

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Abstract

Air recovery, the fraction of air entering a flotation cell that overflows the cell lip, is linked to flotation performance, and it has been shown through industrial testwork that operating flotation cells at air rates that yield the Peak Air Recovery (PAR) results in high mineral recovery. For operating parameters over which flotation plants have little control, such as particle size, investigating the effect on the position of PAR, and the subsequent effect on flotation performance, proves more challenging. To this end, we have developed a bench scale flotation system that runs continuously and exhibits froth behavior similar to that found industrially, allowing the study of such parameters as particle size in addition to air rate. The bench scale system comprises a 4 l baffled cylindrical flotation cell, stirred by a Rushton impeller. The concentrate is recycled back into the pulp, allowing for continuous operation. Glass beads are used as solid particles, allowing a wide range of particle sizes to be tested, with TTAB as collector and MIBC as frother. The system allows operation at air rates typical of industrial flotation systems (1-2 cms<sup>-1</sup> superficial gas velocity), in addition to yielding a froth that coalesces and bursts and exhibits a peak in air recovery as cell air rate in increased. Solids and water recovery is also measured. The results show that air recovery is sensitive to changes in particle size. The intermediate size distribution showed a peak in air recovery (PAR) that corresponded with the maximum solids flowrate, as found industrially. It is shown that finer particles do result in more stable froths and higher recoveries, particularly at low air rates. The effect of particle size on the position of PAR is not yet unequivocally determined from these results.

Type: Proceedings paper
Title: Peak Air Recovery: An investigation into the effect of particle size
Event: IMPC 2014 - 27th International Mineral Processing Congress
ISBN: 9569393165
ISBN-13: 9789569393167
Publisher version: https://www.gecaminpublications.com/impc2014/
Additional information: This version is the author-accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions.
Keywords: flotation fundamentals, froth and frothers
UCL classification: UCL
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science
UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > UCL BEAMS > Faculty of Engineering Science > Dept of Chemical Engineering
URI: https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10114203
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