134 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
zone? With these new cells achieving metal recoveries in
seconds, clearly points to the mineral collection zone or
when the air/reagents first collide with the ore particles.
Traditional thinking placed more importance on the slurry
mixing on providing more time for the air/reagents to
achieve particle collection. The success of these new cells
challenged this traditional concept and the importance of
longer retention times. Universities began research studies
to address these observations i.e., the effects of bubble size,
finding the froth stability zones, and they even started to
question the need of a froth phase.
Scale-up risks for innovative technologies in commer-
cial operations were highlighted in the McNulty curves
and are a major concern for companies. The interpretation
of bench scale and pilot plant test data into design factors
for flotation circuit varies from company to company. The
Process Engineer is instructed that the design criteria do
not reflect the best or worse test data, cases but it includes
the expected operating range. Demonstration plants have
been used in the past but are expensive and take years to
provide the information needed for the engineering firms.
Demonstration plants were only then used on difficult or
complex ores and not for less complex or typical ores. As
mentioned previously, with these new cells the implemen-
tation was first done in the Pre-Roughers/Cleaners because
that was seen as less risky. Again, the mid-tier operators
were seen as the Innovators/Early Adopters and took the
risk of introducing these cells while the majors waited. One
supplier took a novel approach and formed a Consortium
of nine major mining companies to support a full-scale test
of a new flotation cell.
The project Consortium that sponsored Demo Cell
(Figure 12) are listed below:
• BHP Billiton
• Freeport McMoRan
• Rio Tinto – Kennecott
• Anglo American
• Barrick Gold
• Teck Corporation
• Goldcorp
• Antofagasta Minerals
• Vale Canada
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Figure 9. OK’s Skim Air cell
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Figure 10. Eriez’s Stackcell
Source: www.woodgrove.com
Figure 11. Woodgroves’s DFR
zone? With these new cells achieving metal recoveries in
seconds, clearly points to the mineral collection zone or
when the air/reagents first collide with the ore particles.
Traditional thinking placed more importance on the slurry
mixing on providing more time for the air/reagents to
achieve particle collection. The success of these new cells
challenged this traditional concept and the importance of
longer retention times. Universities began research studies
to address these observations i.e., the effects of bubble size,
finding the froth stability zones, and they even started to
question the need of a froth phase.
Scale-up risks for innovative technologies in commer-
cial operations were highlighted in the McNulty curves
and are a major concern for companies. The interpretation
of bench scale and pilot plant test data into design factors
for flotation circuit varies from company to company. The
Process Engineer is instructed that the design criteria do
not reflect the best or worse test data, cases but it includes
the expected operating range. Demonstration plants have
been used in the past but are expensive and take years to
provide the information needed for the engineering firms.
Demonstration plants were only then used on difficult or
complex ores and not for less complex or typical ores. As
mentioned previously, with these new cells the implemen-
tation was first done in the Pre-Roughers/Cleaners because
that was seen as less risky. Again, the mid-tier operators
were seen as the Innovators/Early Adopters and took the
risk of introducing these cells while the majors waited. One
supplier took a novel approach and formed a Consortium
of nine major mining companies to support a full-scale test
of a new flotation cell.
The project Consortium that sponsored Demo Cell
(Figure 12) are listed below:
• BHP Billiton
• Freeport McMoRan
• Rio Tinto – Kennecott
• Anglo American
• Barrick Gold
• Teck Corporation
• Goldcorp
• Antofagasta Minerals
• Vale Canada
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Figure 9. OK’s Skim Air cell
Source: en.wikipedia.org
Figure 10. Eriez’s Stackcell
Source: www.woodgrove.com
Figure 11. Woodgroves’s DFR