flotation of fine and coarse applied to mineral recovery copper
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flotación de mieralesTRANSCRIPT
Flotation of Fine and Coarse Applied to Mineral Recovery copper
J. Concha 1, E. Wasmund21. Deputy Managing Director, EFD|Peru, [email protected]. Global Managing Director, EFD|Canada, [email protected]
ABSTRACTSeveral re searchers report that one of the variables that have greatest impact on the flotation process is the particle size of the mineral. In practice it has been observed that the efficiency ofConventionalflotationcellsdecreaseswhentheparticlesizeislessthan 38 microns and in the opposite case when the particle size is greater than 250 microns. ERIEZ has studied the effect of particle size on the flotation process and based on studies and based in industrial experiences have developed technologies that can produce higher Metallurgical recoveries than conventional flotation technology. For the flotation of fine particles, ERIEZ has the column cells with Cavitation System, which is applied industrially allowing to recover ultrafine particles up to 10 microns. Also, ERIEZ has developed a patented technology calledHydroFloat, which has been working in the flotation coarse and ultra-coarse particles (floating particles larger than 250 microns to 3,000 microns). This paper will present the advances of both technologies applied to the flotation of Copper Sulfides.
1. INTRODUCTION
The particle size of the ore is a important in the flotation process parameter. In the literature (Gaudin, et al, 1931; Morris, 1952) you can find many jobs reported the effect of particle size in the recovery of valuable mineral. Wyslouzil et al.(2009) indicate that the efficiency of the process Flotation is negatively impacted when operating in the extreme, that is, with fine particles ( 250 .mu.m). For example, in flotation Phosphate minerals in conventional cells the optimum range is often in particle between fractions> 45 microns and 20%), it is likely that generate excessive turbulence within the cell, generating bubbles rupture and finally end up impacting recovery adversely. in addition, per unit rpm is increased, the energy consumption will increase by three times. That is, at higher rpm, greater consumption energy, and probably will require engines higher power, then higher costs.In contrast, if desired improve thick recovery, manufacturers conventional cells suggest decrease rpm mechanism. If the rpm is reduced to values greater than 10%, is likely to sedimentation problems occur, which they could even result in stoppage of the cells.That is, although the conventional technologies with certain modifications might present improvements in the recovery of fines and thick, by its design characteristics have limitations that hinder recovery optimum of fine particles ( 250m).To efficiently recover the particles Thin ( 425m and