Batch flotation of a complex sulphide ore by use of pulsated sparged air
Date
2000
Authors
Feng D.
Aldrich C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Pulsation of air sparged into the flotation cell of a complex sulphide ore led to vibration of the bubbles in the pulp, and enhanced bubble-particle collision. The thinning and destruction of the intervening thin liquid film between the particle and the bubble decreased the energy barrier, as a result of which the particle-bubble attachment rate increased. In addition, bubble surface vibration stripped mechanically entrapped hydrophilic particles and weakly attached aggregates form the bubble surfaces. Image analysis of the froth showed that the froth formed with bubble vibration was more stable, bubble sizes were smaller and the bubble loading was markedly higher. Under proper vibration intensities, better sulphide recoveries and higher grades of concentrates could be obtained. The flotation recovery and grade increased by about 2.3 and 1.2 percentage points, respectively for a sample of 60%/-75 μm and by about 3.5 and 2.0 percentage points for a sample of 85%/-75 μm. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.Pulsation of air sparged into the flotation cell of a complex sulphide ore led to vibration of the bubbles in the pulp, and enhanced bubble-particle collision. The thinning and destruction of the intervening thin liquid film between the particle and the bubble decreased the energy barrier, as a result of which the particle-bubble attachment rate increased. In addition, bubble surface vibration stripped mechanically entrapped hydrophilic panicles and weakly attached aggregates form the bubble surfaces. Image analysis of the froth showed that the froth formed with bubble vibration was more stable, bubble sizes were smaller and the bubble loading was markedly higher. Under proper vibration intensities, better sulphide recoveries and higher grades of concentrates could be obtained. The flotation recovery and grade increased by about 2.3 and 1.2 percentage points, respectively for a sample of 60%/-75 μm and by about 3.5 and 2.0 percentage points for a sample of 85%/-75 μm.
Description
Keywords
Bubbles (in fluids), Flotation, Image analysis, Pulsatile flow, Sulfide minerals, Surface phenomena, Pulsated sparged air, Sulfide ores, Ore treatment, batch separation, flotation, image analysis, ore, sulfide
Citation
International Journal of Mineral Processing
60
2
60
2