XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2825
recovery. Factors that altered the froth, such as frother
dosage, froth depth and fresh feed flow, significantly
affected the concentrate mass pull and copper recov-
ery during the tests. It is, therefore, not surprising
that the copper recovery increased substantially with
increased frother addition.
• Froth depth had a more significant influence on
recovery under conditions of low froth stability (i.e.,
low frother addition), likely because poor froth sta-
bility results in more drop-back from the froth. Thus,
when the froth is more unstable, variables that pro-
vide more time for drop-back to occur (e.g., deeper
froths) have a greater effect on recovery.
• Increasing the fresh feed flow also increased copper
recovery. One possible reason is that the proportion
of floatable material in the fresh feed is more than
that in the recycled tailings, resulting in an effectively
higher feed grade with increasing feed flow. This is
likely to translate into improved froth performance
due to the presence of more hydrophobic material
that aids in stabilizing the froth. This potentially out-
weighs the expected benefits associated with higher
tailings recycle, offering multiple passes of the mate-
rial through the downcomer and, hence, increased
flotation probability. However, this requires further
investigation.
• Increasing the feed solids concentration had a nega-
tive effect on copper recovery. This has been observed
in other studies on mechanical cells (Runge et al.
2012), but the mechanism is still to be established in
this application.
• An increase in copper recovery with decreasing vac-
uum pressure (i.e., increasing air rate) was achieved.
No optimum air flow rate was observed, likely
because carrying capacity was not exceeded in this
scavenging duty.
• Wash water addition had a minimal impact on cop-
per recovery, likely because it did not destabilize the
froth. However, wash water addition may be required
to achieve higher concentrate grades.
Based on the analysis, the drivers of Jameson cell perfor-
mance in this base metal scavenging duty were identified as:
• Fresh feed flow rate, most likely because it affects
feed grade
• Feed solids concentration
• Vacuum pressure
• Froth depth
• Frother addition
In particular, these factors were observed to impact the
froth performance significantly and confirmed the well-
known importance of air flow rate in flotation.
CONCLUSIONS
The work presented the outcomes from screening tests with
a pilot-scale Jameson cell operating in a copper scavenging
duty. To summarize the conclusions:
• The Jameson cell could achieve acceptable flotation
performance (Cu recovery 30%) in this scavenging
duty, with a high degree of selectivity between the
Cu and Si elements during flotation.
• Recovery was improved by operating at less than
25% feed solids concentration, low vacuum pressure
(i.e., high air flow rate), and shallow froth depths
with little or no wash water addition. Most impor-
tantly, the addition of frother was required to ensure
reasonable froth recovery was achieved.
• Froth performance, and therefore also the factors that
affect the froth, i.e., frother dosage, froth depth and
fresh feed flow, impacted copper recovery drastically.
• An increase in copper recovery with decreasing vac-
uum pressure (i.e., increasing air rate) was observed,
confirming the well-known importance of air flow
rate on flotation performance.
• Wash water addition had little effect on copper
recovery.
A range of operating conditions were identified where
acceptable flotation performance was achieved, verifying
the ability of the Jameson cell to operate in a vastly differ-
ent regime than traditionally accepted.
The drivers of Jameson cell performance in base metal
scavenging identified in this work will be further evaluated
to elucidate the mechanism involved, focusing on froth per-
formance. The use of froth crowders could also be trialled
because of its dual effect on reducing the froth residence
time and froth transport distance.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors acknowledge the funding support and industry
context provided for this work by Glencore Technology. The
authors also acknowledge the support provided by Glencore
Technology and BHP in the execution of the pilot-scale
campaign. Lastly, the authors acknowledge the support
from the Australian Research Council for the ARC Centre
of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of
Minerals, grant number CE200100009.
recovery. Factors that altered the froth, such as frother
dosage, froth depth and fresh feed flow, significantly
affected the concentrate mass pull and copper recov-
ery during the tests. It is, therefore, not surprising
that the copper recovery increased substantially with
increased frother addition.
• Froth depth had a more significant influence on
recovery under conditions of low froth stability (i.e.,
low frother addition), likely because poor froth sta-
bility results in more drop-back from the froth. Thus,
when the froth is more unstable, variables that pro-
vide more time for drop-back to occur (e.g., deeper
froths) have a greater effect on recovery.
• Increasing the fresh feed flow also increased copper
recovery. One possible reason is that the proportion
of floatable material in the fresh feed is more than
that in the recycled tailings, resulting in an effectively
higher feed grade with increasing feed flow. This is
likely to translate into improved froth performance
due to the presence of more hydrophobic material
that aids in stabilizing the froth. This potentially out-
weighs the expected benefits associated with higher
tailings recycle, offering multiple passes of the mate-
rial through the downcomer and, hence, increased
flotation probability. However, this requires further
investigation.
• Increasing the feed solids concentration had a nega-
tive effect on copper recovery. This has been observed
in other studies on mechanical cells (Runge et al.
2012), but the mechanism is still to be established in
this application.
• An increase in copper recovery with decreasing vac-
uum pressure (i.e., increasing air rate) was achieved.
No optimum air flow rate was observed, likely
because carrying capacity was not exceeded in this
scavenging duty.
• Wash water addition had a minimal impact on cop-
per recovery, likely because it did not destabilize the
froth. However, wash water addition may be required
to achieve higher concentrate grades.
Based on the analysis, the drivers of Jameson cell perfor-
mance in this base metal scavenging duty were identified as:
• Fresh feed flow rate, most likely because it affects
feed grade
• Feed solids concentration
• Vacuum pressure
• Froth depth
• Frother addition
In particular, these factors were observed to impact the
froth performance significantly and confirmed the well-
known importance of air flow rate in flotation.
CONCLUSIONS
The work presented the outcomes from screening tests with
a pilot-scale Jameson cell operating in a copper scavenging
duty. To summarize the conclusions:
• The Jameson cell could achieve acceptable flotation
performance (Cu recovery 30%) in this scavenging
duty, with a high degree of selectivity between the
Cu and Si elements during flotation.
• Recovery was improved by operating at less than
25% feed solids concentration, low vacuum pressure
(i.e., high air flow rate), and shallow froth depths
with little or no wash water addition. Most impor-
tantly, the addition of frother was required to ensure
reasonable froth recovery was achieved.
• Froth performance, and therefore also the factors that
affect the froth, i.e., frother dosage, froth depth and
fresh feed flow, impacted copper recovery drastically.
• An increase in copper recovery with decreasing vac-
uum pressure (i.e., increasing air rate) was observed,
confirming the well-known importance of air flow
rate on flotation performance.
• Wash water addition had little effect on copper
recovery.
A range of operating conditions were identified where
acceptable flotation performance was achieved, verifying
the ability of the Jameson cell to operate in a vastly differ-
ent regime than traditionally accepted.
The drivers of Jameson cell performance in base metal
scavenging identified in this work will be further evaluated
to elucidate the mechanism involved, focusing on froth per-
formance. The use of froth crowders could also be trialled
because of its dual effect on reducing the froth residence
time and froth transport distance.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors acknowledge the funding support and industry
context provided for this work by Glencore Technology. The
authors also acknowledge the support provided by Glencore
Technology and BHP in the execution of the pilot-scale
campaign. Lastly, the authors acknowledge the support
from the Australian Research Council for the ARC Centre
of Excellence for Enabling Eco-Efficient Beneficiation of
Minerals, grant number CE200100009.
