2818 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Equipment
The experiment was conducted with an L500 pilot-scale
Jameson cell test rig from Glencore Technology. The rig was
installed at an Australian copper operation in a scavenging
duty, with scavenger feed diverted from the main flotation
circuit to the rig using a Bredel hose pump (see Figure 2).
The rig cell diameter is 500 mm with one 100 mm
downcomer with a 16 mm diameter orifice plate. The
downcomer feed pump has a variable speed drive (VSD)
control and local speed output. During operation, the
pump speed was set to maintain the downcomer pressure
between 150 and 160 kPa.
Operation of the Pilot Rig
During operation of the pilot rig, the air and wash water
flow rate was manually adjusted using rotameters. The
vacuum pressure was monitored using a vacuum gauge
(capsule-type stem mounted) with a range from 0 to –40
kPa. A tailings valve and pressure transmitter automatically
controlled the cell level via a PLC. The froth depth was
manually measured using a calibrated float with a gradu-
ated steel ruler.
InterfloatTM F228 from Interchem was used as a
frother. The frother was dosed into the rig’s feed sump with
a Watson-Marlow pump. The frother was added on a volu-
metric basis with respect to the total fresh feed flow. The
collector was added to the rougher circuit before diverting
feed to the Jameson cell. Hence, the scavenger feed was pre-
conditioned, and no additional collector was added to the
pilot rig.
The Bredel hose pump speed was adjusted to achieve
the desired fresh feed flow rate for each test condition.
Dilution water was diverted from the process water and
added to the feed sump to vary the feed solids concentra-
tion. The dilution water flow was determined by measuring
the volume collected over a measured time. Flow rates were
also obtained for the fresh feed, tailings and concentrate
streams at each test condition using this method.
Samples of the feed, recirculating feed, concentrate,
and tailings streams were also collected for each test run,
with the samples analyzed to determine the solids content
and elemental composition. In combination with the flow
rate measurements, this data was mass balanced to deter-
mine the flotation performance. The different measure-
ments collected for each run are summarized in Table 1.
Screening Test Procedure
The Jameson cell operating variables used as factors in the
screening tests and their levels are shown in Table 2. These
tests intended to screen the large number of factors (six in
(a) (b)
Figure 2. (a) The L500 pilot-scale Jameson cell test rig (b) Setup in the copper
scavenging duty of the operation
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Equipment
The experiment was conducted with an L500 pilot-scale
Jameson cell test rig from Glencore Technology. The rig was
installed at an Australian copper operation in a scavenging
duty, with scavenger feed diverted from the main flotation
circuit to the rig using a Bredel hose pump (see Figure 2).
The rig cell diameter is 500 mm with one 100 mm
downcomer with a 16 mm diameter orifice plate. The
downcomer feed pump has a variable speed drive (VSD)
control and local speed output. During operation, the
pump speed was set to maintain the downcomer pressure
between 150 and 160 kPa.
Operation of the Pilot Rig
During operation of the pilot rig, the air and wash water
flow rate was manually adjusted using rotameters. The
vacuum pressure was monitored using a vacuum gauge
(capsule-type stem mounted) with a range from 0 to –40
kPa. A tailings valve and pressure transmitter automatically
controlled the cell level via a PLC. The froth depth was
manually measured using a calibrated float with a gradu-
ated steel ruler.
InterfloatTM F228 from Interchem was used as a
frother. The frother was dosed into the rig’s feed sump with
a Watson-Marlow pump. The frother was added on a volu-
metric basis with respect to the total fresh feed flow. The
collector was added to the rougher circuit before diverting
feed to the Jameson cell. Hence, the scavenger feed was pre-
conditioned, and no additional collector was added to the
pilot rig.
The Bredel hose pump speed was adjusted to achieve
the desired fresh feed flow rate for each test condition.
Dilution water was diverted from the process water and
added to the feed sump to vary the feed solids concentra-
tion. The dilution water flow was determined by measuring
the volume collected over a measured time. Flow rates were
also obtained for the fresh feed, tailings and concentrate
streams at each test condition using this method.
Samples of the feed, recirculating feed, concentrate,
and tailings streams were also collected for each test run,
with the samples analyzed to determine the solids content
and elemental composition. In combination with the flow
rate measurements, this data was mass balanced to deter-
mine the flotation performance. The different measure-
ments collected for each run are summarized in Table 1.
Screening Test Procedure
The Jameson cell operating variables used as factors in the
screening tests and their levels are shown in Table 2. These
tests intended to screen the large number of factors (six in
(a) (b)
Figure 2. (a) The L500 pilot-scale Jameson cell test rig (b) Setup in the copper
scavenging duty of the operation