In-line static mixer for improved flotation kinetics.
Authors
Hood-GD; Jordon-CE
Source
Advances in filtration and separation technology: new filtration and separation equipment, annual meeting of the American Filtration Society, May 10-14, 1992, Chicago, Illinois. Peters-RW, ed. Des Plaines, IL: Cahners Publishing Company, 1993 Jan; 6:480-487
Abstract
The Bureau-developed rapid flotation system illustrates how the use of discrete units for bubble-particle attachment and bubble-pulp separation can improve the overall flotation kinetics. Each unit can be optimized to obtain the best performance of its function. There is an optimum mixing intensity and slurry residence time in the in-line static mixer bubble-particle attachment unit for the best performance. There is also an optimum froth separator surface area to flow rate ratio for the froth separator (effective bubble residence time). Matching these two optimized units would substantially improve the flotation kinetics. Improved flotation kinetics allow for much smaller flotation circuits to replace the larger conventional flotation circuits of the same capacity. Using the mixing intensity of the in-line static mixer bubble-particle attachment unit, air to ore ratio, and the froth separator surface area to flow rate ratio parameters, the rapid flotation system could be scaled-up. The rapid flotation system was shown to be effective on a western porphyry copper ore containing 0.67 pct copper. The best copper grade was obtained at a 0.50 mL/g air to ore ratio, a 16 L/min pulp flow rate, with a 314 cm2 surface area froth separator. About 88 pct copper was recovered from the ore in a rougher concentrate containing 5.9 pct copper at a rate over seven times faster than conventional flotation. These results were obtained using five flotation stages (2.4 min residence time).
Keywords
Mineral-processing; Minerals; Metal-compounds; Metal-mining; Metal-refining
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Source Name
Advances in filtration and separation technology: new filtration and separation equipment, annual meeting of the American Filtration Society, May 10-14, 1992, Chicago, Illinois
