1066 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Figure 11 demonstrates the overall flowsheet of the con-
ducted locked cycle test and as it can be seen from results,
19.7% copper concentrate can be produced at 94.4% cop-
per recovery by four-stage cleaners.
Locked Cycle Test Results
Locked cycle test was conducted in eight rounds on the
developed flowsheet. The metal balances and circulation
loads were calculated during the locked cycle test. The
results can be seen in Figure 12.
After the seventh round, the middling streams have
reached stability. Overall, cleaner´s streams have shown a
relative increase by end of the locked cycle test. Nevertheless,
the accumulation has remained at a restricted level.
Recirculation load is calculated based on sum of
weights in gram of middling streams divided by main feed.
Recirculation load gives valuable information about the
flowsheet and the process (Michaux et. al, 2020). The lower
recirculation load is the better metallurgical performance in
flotation process. It can be seen in Figure 12 that recircula-
tion loads are drastically increased during the locked cycle
test, and it reached peak at 7th round. However, the recir-
culation load got stable in the last round. It can be assumed
that metals are almost balanced and the last two cycles can
be used for final mass balancing. Mass balance results can
be seen in Figure 13.
According to the mass balance results, 18.14% cop-
per concentrate can be produced at 93.1% recovery. Water
Figure 11. Batch simulation results of locked cycle test
Figure 11 demonstrates the overall flowsheet of the con-
ducted locked cycle test and as it can be seen from results,
19.7% copper concentrate can be produced at 94.4% cop-
per recovery by four-stage cleaners.
Locked Cycle Test Results
Locked cycle test was conducted in eight rounds on the
developed flowsheet. The metal balances and circulation
loads were calculated during the locked cycle test. The
results can be seen in Figure 12.
After the seventh round, the middling streams have
reached stability. Overall, cleaner´s streams have shown a
relative increase by end of the locked cycle test. Nevertheless,
the accumulation has remained at a restricted level.
Recirculation load is calculated based on sum of
weights in gram of middling streams divided by main feed.
Recirculation load gives valuable information about the
flowsheet and the process (Michaux et. al, 2020). The lower
recirculation load is the better metallurgical performance in
flotation process. It can be seen in Figure 12 that recircula-
tion loads are drastically increased during the locked cycle
test, and it reached peak at 7th round. However, the recir-
culation load got stable in the last round. It can be assumed
that metals are almost balanced and the last two cycles can
be used for final mass balancing. Mass balance results can
be seen in Figure 13.
According to the mass balance results, 18.14% cop-
per concentrate can be produced at 93.1% recovery. Water
Figure 11. Batch simulation results of locked cycle test