XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2559
Table 4. Process parameter for the full start simplex and process parameter varied in the simplified start simplex
Parameter
Rougher Stage Cleaner Stage
pH
Quebracho
Dosage,
g/t
Collector
Dosage,
g/t
Frother
Dosage,
g/t
CS
Dosage,
g/t pH
Collector
Dosage,
g/t
Frother
Dosage,
g/t
CS
Dosage,
g/t
Full simplex X X X X X X X X X
Simplified simplex X X X
To deal with the problem of the high number of com-
ponents in the starting simplex, some parameters are con-
sidered to be already optimised by batch flotation and are
varied in a small interval around the already defined opti-
mum in batch scale, while the parameters of interest, such
as here the dosage of depressants, are kept free to vary, with
constraints (e.g., no negative values of the dosages).
Assuming that for the parameters pH, collector dosage
and frother dosage in the rougher and cleaner stages, the
optimal parameter settings are very close to the pre-identi-
fied optimum in the batch scale, the varied parameters in
the start simplex is simplified from 9 to 3 components, as
shown in Table 4.
In this way, the number of pilot scale trials is mini-
mized and at the same time a promising optimal region
is identified in advance, which is then further investigated
on an industrial scale with a few trials using the Nelder-
Mead algorithm based on the optimal parameter settings
found on the pilot scale which quickly leads to an optimal
operating point. The entire workflow from microflotation
to industrial scale via batch and pilot scale as well as the
methods used and the correlations between them is shown
in Figure 4.
RESULTS
Microflotation
Single mineral flotation experiments were carried out
with the three colloidal silica dispersions type namely the
non-functionalized, the aluminate modified and the silane
modified colloidal. The effect of colloidal silica dosage on
the microflotation recoveries of calcite and scheelite at a
sodium oleate concentration of 10–3 mol/L, pH 8 and
a specific surface area of colloidal silica of 500 m2/g are
shown in Figure 5.
It can be seen that colloidal silica depress calcite, while
the recoveries of scheelite is not affected by the reagent,
irrespective of its modification
Figure 4. Proposed workflow for upscaling and optimization of reagent systems
Table 4. Process parameter for the full start simplex and process parameter varied in the simplified start simplex
Parameter
Rougher Stage Cleaner Stage
pH
Quebracho
Dosage,
g/t
Collector
Dosage,
g/t
Frother
Dosage,
g/t
CS
Dosage,
g/t pH
Collector
Dosage,
g/t
Frother
Dosage,
g/t
CS
Dosage,
g/t
Full simplex X X X X X X X X X
Simplified simplex X X X
To deal with the problem of the high number of com-
ponents in the starting simplex, some parameters are con-
sidered to be already optimised by batch flotation and are
varied in a small interval around the already defined opti-
mum in batch scale, while the parameters of interest, such
as here the dosage of depressants, are kept free to vary, with
constraints (e.g., no negative values of the dosages).
Assuming that for the parameters pH, collector dosage
and frother dosage in the rougher and cleaner stages, the
optimal parameter settings are very close to the pre-identi-
fied optimum in the batch scale, the varied parameters in
the start simplex is simplified from 9 to 3 components, as
shown in Table 4.
In this way, the number of pilot scale trials is mini-
mized and at the same time a promising optimal region
is identified in advance, which is then further investigated
on an industrial scale with a few trials using the Nelder-
Mead algorithm based on the optimal parameter settings
found on the pilot scale which quickly leads to an optimal
operating point. The entire workflow from microflotation
to industrial scale via batch and pilot scale as well as the
methods used and the correlations between them is shown
in Figure 4.
RESULTS
Microflotation
Single mineral flotation experiments were carried out
with the three colloidal silica dispersions type namely the
non-functionalized, the aluminate modified and the silane
modified colloidal. The effect of colloidal silica dosage on
the microflotation recoveries of calcite and scheelite at a
sodium oleate concentration of 10–3 mol/L, pH 8 and
a specific surface area of colloidal silica of 500 m2/g are
shown in Figure 5.
It can be seen that colloidal silica depress calcite, while
the recoveries of scheelite is not affected by the reagent,
irrespective of its modification
Figure 4. Proposed workflow for upscaling and optimization of reagent systems