XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 1061
speed rates are adjustable to maintain solid suspension and
gas dispersion.
In the rougher flotation stage, feed sizes of 1.5 kg
batches were used in 4 liters of flotation cells. In the cleaner
stages, 2-liter and 1.4-liter cells were used for the first and
the rest of the cleaner stages. Depending on the mass pull,
the solids concentration for the rougher and first cleaner
stages was 30–31 w/w% and 15–30 w/w%.
The first cleaner flotation was carried out in a 2-liter
cell with an automatic scraping mechanism however, fur-
ther cleaner stages in a 1.4-liter cell were conducted with a
hand-scraping method.
The flotation air flow rates were set to 2l/min for 1.4
liters and 2 liters cells, and 4 l/min was set in 4 liters cells,
respectively. The impeller speed settings were 900 rpm,
1200 rpm, and 1600 rpm for 1.4 liters, 2 liters, and 4 liters
cells with the smaller rotor-stator to maintain pulp condi-
tions (Table 5).
pH was measured continuously by a standard hydrogen
electrode during the flotation tests. The pulp redox poten-
tial was measured by platinum electrode using Ag/AgCl
electrode as reference. Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and pyrite
(FeS2) electrodes were used to observe pulp potentials.
All the mass balances were conducted in HSC SIM 10
Mass balance tool ® and balanced according to the “least
square” method. Rougher kinetic and open cleaner test
general flowsheets can be seen in Figure 5 and Figure 6,
respectively.
Abbreviations:
RF- Rougher flotation
RT- Rougher flotation tailing
RC- Rougher flotation concentrate
C1F- First cleaner flotation
C2F- Second cleaner flotation
C3F- Third cleaner flotation
C4F- Fourth cleaner flotation
C1F2- First cleaner second flotation
C2F2- Second cleaner, second flotation
C3F2- Third cleaner second flotation
C4F2- Fourth cleaner second flotation
Analytical Methods Used in Experiments
The flotation experiments products were analyzed at Metso
Outotec Research Center, Pori. After total dissolution,
the chemical analysis of metals in solids was conducted
using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission
Spectrometry (ICP-OES, iCAP 6000, Thermo Scientific,
Netherlands). The total carbon and sulfur concentrations
were deter-mined by the combustion method (CS-2000,
Eltra, Germany). The gold content was determined using
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS,
Thermo Scientific, Netherlands). Figure 4. Outotec GTK LabcellTM mechanical flotation
machine
Table 5. Reagents used in the experiments
Reagents Commercial name Formula Function Manufacturer
Lime Calcium Oxide CaO pH modifier Merck Life Science Oy
3418A Aerophine® 3418A Sodium di-
isobutyldithiophosphinate
Collector Solvay Industries B.V.
2216 Florrea 2216 Phosphoridithioate salt
(Sodium dialkyl dithiophosphate)
Collector Shenyang Florrea Chemicals Co LTD
76A Aerofroth® 76A 2-Ethylhexanol tails Frother Solvay Industries B.V.
speed rates are adjustable to maintain solid suspension and
gas dispersion.
In the rougher flotation stage, feed sizes of 1.5 kg
batches were used in 4 liters of flotation cells. In the cleaner
stages, 2-liter and 1.4-liter cells were used for the first and
the rest of the cleaner stages. Depending on the mass pull,
the solids concentration for the rougher and first cleaner
stages was 30–31 w/w% and 15–30 w/w%.
The first cleaner flotation was carried out in a 2-liter
cell with an automatic scraping mechanism however, fur-
ther cleaner stages in a 1.4-liter cell were conducted with a
hand-scraping method.
The flotation air flow rates were set to 2l/min for 1.4
liters and 2 liters cells, and 4 l/min was set in 4 liters cells,
respectively. The impeller speed settings were 900 rpm,
1200 rpm, and 1600 rpm for 1.4 liters, 2 liters, and 4 liters
cells with the smaller rotor-stator to maintain pulp condi-
tions (Table 5).
pH was measured continuously by a standard hydrogen
electrode during the flotation tests. The pulp redox poten-
tial was measured by platinum electrode using Ag/AgCl
electrode as reference. Chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and pyrite
(FeS2) electrodes were used to observe pulp potentials.
All the mass balances were conducted in HSC SIM 10
Mass balance tool ® and balanced according to the “least
square” method. Rougher kinetic and open cleaner test
general flowsheets can be seen in Figure 5 and Figure 6,
respectively.
Abbreviations:
RF- Rougher flotation
RT- Rougher flotation tailing
RC- Rougher flotation concentrate
C1F- First cleaner flotation
C2F- Second cleaner flotation
C3F- Third cleaner flotation
C4F- Fourth cleaner flotation
C1F2- First cleaner second flotation
C2F2- Second cleaner, second flotation
C3F2- Third cleaner second flotation
C4F2- Fourth cleaner second flotation
Analytical Methods Used in Experiments
The flotation experiments products were analyzed at Metso
Outotec Research Center, Pori. After total dissolution,
the chemical analysis of metals in solids was conducted
using Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission
Spectrometry (ICP-OES, iCAP 6000, Thermo Scientific,
Netherlands). The total carbon and sulfur concentrations
were deter-mined by the combustion method (CS-2000,
Eltra, Germany). The gold content was determined using
Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS,
Thermo Scientific, Netherlands). Figure 4. Outotec GTK LabcellTM mechanical flotation
machine
Table 5. Reagents used in the experiments
Reagents Commercial name Formula Function Manufacturer
Lime Calcium Oxide CaO pH modifier Merck Life Science Oy
3418A Aerophine® 3418A Sodium di-
isobutyldithiophosphinate
Collector Solvay Industries B.V.
2216 Florrea 2216 Phosphoridithioate salt
(Sodium dialkyl dithiophosphate)
Collector Shenyang Florrea Chemicals Co LTD
76A Aerofroth® 76A 2-Ethylhexanol tails Frother Solvay Industries B.V.