XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2809
flotation study conducted on a conventional flotation cell
providing a potential benchmark for future comparative
studies. The response variables measured included mineral
recovery, concentrate grade, and enrichment ratio.
Effect of Airflow Rate
The RFC can accommodate high air flow rates during its
operation, often intentional to create flooding conditions,
a feature that sets it apart from many conventional flota-
tion cells. To sustain the flooding condition, a correspond-
ing high feed rate is maintained, justifying its use in high
throughput operations (Dickinson et al., 2015). Two differ-
ent feed rates, 6 L/min and 10 L/min, were considered as
the airflow was increased to maintain the flooding system.
The airflow rates considered in this study were 5, 6, 7, and
8 L/min while maintaining variables such as the underflow
rate and pulp density, constant.
Effect of Wash Water Flow Rate
The RFC utilises wash water to create a bubbly zone in
the reverse fluidised bed located just above the inclined
channels. Previous studies conducted using the RFC have
shown that fluidization helps to eliminate entrained slimes
which increases the overall concentrate grade (Chen et al.,
2022 Dickinson and Galvin, 2014). In this study, the flu-
idization performance of the RFC under optimum design
parameters was investigated. Wash water rates of 2, 3, and
4 L/min were used to assess the hydrodynamic performance
of the RFC. During the study, feed rate, pulp density, air-
flow rate, and underflow rate were kept constant.
Effect of Feed Flow Rate
The feed flowrate plays a crucial role in influencing the
hydrodynamics within the cell during froth flotation opera-
tions. The RFC exhibits resilience to high feed flowrates in
its design and gains an advantage from the heightened shear
rate generated within its downcomer (Cole et al., 2021
Jiang et al., 2019). The current study initially investigated
feed flowrates of 6, 7, and 10 L/min at a pulp density of 2
wt.% and wash water flow rate of 3 L/min. Following the
obtained nickel recovery results, an additional experiment
was conducted with a feed rate of 10 L/min, this time uti-
lizing a very low wash water flow rate of 0.3 L/min. The
decision was based on insights gained from earlier wash
water experiments and their impact on selectivity.
RESULTS
Effect of Pulp Density
Figure 3 illustrates how the nickel recovery and grade
responds to changes in pulp density. The enrichment ratio
of the nickel is also represented in a line graph in Figure 3.
From the graph, an increase in selectivity in flotation
Figure 2. The particle size distribution of pentlandite (P80=19µm) and quartz (P80=18µm)
flotation study conducted on a conventional flotation cell
providing a potential benchmark for future comparative
studies. The response variables measured included mineral
recovery, concentrate grade, and enrichment ratio.
Effect of Airflow Rate
The RFC can accommodate high air flow rates during its
operation, often intentional to create flooding conditions,
a feature that sets it apart from many conventional flota-
tion cells. To sustain the flooding condition, a correspond-
ing high feed rate is maintained, justifying its use in high
throughput operations (Dickinson et al., 2015). Two differ-
ent feed rates, 6 L/min and 10 L/min, were considered as
the airflow was increased to maintain the flooding system.
The airflow rates considered in this study were 5, 6, 7, and
8 L/min while maintaining variables such as the underflow
rate and pulp density, constant.
Effect of Wash Water Flow Rate
The RFC utilises wash water to create a bubbly zone in
the reverse fluidised bed located just above the inclined
channels. Previous studies conducted using the RFC have
shown that fluidization helps to eliminate entrained slimes
which increases the overall concentrate grade (Chen et al.,
2022 Dickinson and Galvin, 2014). In this study, the flu-
idization performance of the RFC under optimum design
parameters was investigated. Wash water rates of 2, 3, and
4 L/min were used to assess the hydrodynamic performance
of the RFC. During the study, feed rate, pulp density, air-
flow rate, and underflow rate were kept constant.
Effect of Feed Flow Rate
The feed flowrate plays a crucial role in influencing the
hydrodynamics within the cell during froth flotation opera-
tions. The RFC exhibits resilience to high feed flowrates in
its design and gains an advantage from the heightened shear
rate generated within its downcomer (Cole et al., 2021
Jiang et al., 2019). The current study initially investigated
feed flowrates of 6, 7, and 10 L/min at a pulp density of 2
wt.% and wash water flow rate of 3 L/min. Following the
obtained nickel recovery results, an additional experiment
was conducted with a feed rate of 10 L/min, this time uti-
lizing a very low wash water flow rate of 0.3 L/min. The
decision was based on insights gained from earlier wash
water experiments and their impact on selectivity.
RESULTS
Effect of Pulp Density
Figure 3 illustrates how the nickel recovery and grade
responds to changes in pulp density. The enrichment ratio
of the nickel is also represented in a line graph in Figure 3.
From the graph, an increase in selectivity in flotation
Figure 2. The particle size distribution of pentlandite (P80=19µm) and quartz (P80=18µm)