2834 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
froth and screen concentrates were 65% and 9%, respec-
tively. Thus, the screen concentrate contributed signifi-
cantly to the product recovery and a classification circuit
would likely be required to recover the coarse particles for
this application. The results suggest that with the current
flotation technologies, there is a significant amount of
floatable copper being lost to the TSF. With the addition of
the NovaCell ™, the plant tails grade could be reduced from
0.16% Cu to 0.05% Cu.
The results for the NovaCell ™ and the Agitair cell are
presented Table 6. The Agitair cell obtained an overall cop-
per recovery of 70%, 4% lower than the NovaCell ™. The
kinetic rate results also suggest that the NovaCell ™ had
faster flotation kinetics. Additional work is being under-
taken by the mine to investigate this further. Understanding
the flotation kinetics will be important for equipment
selection. It was noted that the NovaCell ™ achieved a
lower product upgrade ratio than the Agitair cell, probably
because it was more successful in recovering composite low-
grade material.
The NovaCell ™ and Agitair copper results were
analyzed on a sized basis. The copper recovery-by-size
results for both tests are presented in Figure 5. The plot
indicates that the copper recoveries in the –212 µm size
fractions were similar for both technologies, however in the
+212 µm size fractions the NovaCell ™ indicated signifi-
cantly higher recoveries. Thus, as observed in case study 1,
the NovaCell ™ is better at recovering coarse copper par-
ticles than conventional flotation technologies. This sug-
gests that at the current flotation feed grind size (P80) of
~256 µm, the NovaCell ™ recovery improvement would
likely increase even further.
It is important to note that the Agitair cell copper recov-
eries are not being replicated in the plant. It is hypothesized
that the lower recoveries in the plant were caused by inef-
ficiencies in the cell hydrodynamics and froth recoveries,
rather than residence time constraints. Further investiga-
tion would need to be conducted. However, in some cases,
it may be possible to improve plant recoveries through
equipment modifications. This may include changes in the
process control, instrumentation, mixing mechanism and/
or launder/crowder arrangements.
The copper assay-by-size results for both tests are pre-
sented in Figure 6. The plot indicates that the NovaCell ™
product grades were higher across most of the size frac-
tions, except for the –106 µm size fractions. To improve
the product grade in the finer size fractions, the plant-scale
NovaCell ™ would need to include a froth washing system.
Table 6. Case study 2 NovaCell™ and Agitair cell results
NovaCell™ Agitair Cell
Product Recovery,
%
Product Upgrade
Ratio
Product Recovery,
%
Product Upgrade
Ratio
Mass 15% 10%
Copper 74% 5.1 70% 7.1
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Particle Size (μm)
NovaCell Agitair Cell
Figure 5. Case study 2, copper recovery-by-size results for the NovaCell™ and Agitair cell
Copper
Recovery
(%)
froth and screen concentrates were 65% and 9%, respec-
tively. Thus, the screen concentrate contributed signifi-
cantly to the product recovery and a classification circuit
would likely be required to recover the coarse particles for
this application. The results suggest that with the current
flotation technologies, there is a significant amount of
floatable copper being lost to the TSF. With the addition of
the NovaCell ™, the plant tails grade could be reduced from
0.16% Cu to 0.05% Cu.
The results for the NovaCell ™ and the Agitair cell are
presented Table 6. The Agitair cell obtained an overall cop-
per recovery of 70%, 4% lower than the NovaCell ™. The
kinetic rate results also suggest that the NovaCell ™ had
faster flotation kinetics. Additional work is being under-
taken by the mine to investigate this further. Understanding
the flotation kinetics will be important for equipment
selection. It was noted that the NovaCell ™ achieved a
lower product upgrade ratio than the Agitair cell, probably
because it was more successful in recovering composite low-
grade material.
The NovaCell ™ and Agitair copper results were
analyzed on a sized basis. The copper recovery-by-size
results for both tests are presented in Figure 5. The plot
indicates that the copper recoveries in the –212 µm size
fractions were similar for both technologies, however in the
+212 µm size fractions the NovaCell ™ indicated signifi-
cantly higher recoveries. Thus, as observed in case study 1,
the NovaCell ™ is better at recovering coarse copper par-
ticles than conventional flotation technologies. This sug-
gests that at the current flotation feed grind size (P80) of
~256 µm, the NovaCell ™ recovery improvement would
likely increase even further.
It is important to note that the Agitair cell copper recov-
eries are not being replicated in the plant. It is hypothesized
that the lower recoveries in the plant were caused by inef-
ficiencies in the cell hydrodynamics and froth recoveries,
rather than residence time constraints. Further investiga-
tion would need to be conducted. However, in some cases,
it may be possible to improve plant recoveries through
equipment modifications. This may include changes in the
process control, instrumentation, mixing mechanism and/
or launder/crowder arrangements.
The copper assay-by-size results for both tests are pre-
sented in Figure 6. The plot indicates that the NovaCell ™
product grades were higher across most of the size frac-
tions, except for the –106 µm size fractions. To improve
the product grade in the finer size fractions, the plant-scale
NovaCell ™ would need to include a froth washing system.
Table 6. Case study 2 NovaCell™ and Agitair cell results
NovaCell™ Agitair Cell
Product Recovery,
%
Product Upgrade
Ratio
Product Recovery,
%
Product Upgrade
Ratio
Mass 15% 10%
Copper 74% 5.1 70% 7.1
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
90%
100%
0 100 200 300 400 500 600
Particle Size (μm)
NovaCell Agitair Cell
Figure 5. Case study 2, copper recovery-by-size results for the NovaCell™ and Agitair cell
Copper
Recovery
(%)