2851
The Value of Pneumatic Flotation Demonstrated with
Particle‑Based Separation Models: A Case Study on KGHM
Copper Ore Using Semi-Industrial Imhoflot G-Cell
Duong H. Hoang
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Germany
Maelgwyn Mineral Services Ltd, Cathays, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Lucas Pereira
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Germany
ERZLABOR Advanced Solutions GmbH, Freiberg, Germany
Kai Bachmann
ERZLABOR Advanced Solutions GmbH, Freiberg, Germany
Martin Rudolph
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Germany
ABSTRACT: Pneumatic flotation cells have demonstrated efficiency over conventional tank cells when
recovering fine particles. This study presents the impact of froth height, and recirculation load on the froth
properties and consequently performance of a semi-industrial Imhoflot™ pneumatic G-Cell at the KGHM
Polkowice plant, Poland. The feed, concentrate, and tailings streams were sampled during the pilot test on-site,
and automated mineralogy measurements were conducted. Particle-based separation models were used to better
understand the recovery of individual particles from this complex ore under different operating conditions, to
shed some light into the separation efficiency between chalcocite and different gangue minerals when using
pneumatic flotation.
Keywords: fine particle flotation, particle-based modeling, entrainment, fine bubbles, automated mineralogy
MLA
INTRODUCTION
The ever-increasing metal demand brings the need to pro-
cess low-grade, complex, and finely disseminated ores—a
typical challenge for froth flotation. Even though flotation
is capable of handling relatively fine particle sizes, how-
ever flotation of fine and ultrafine particles still faces many
challenges.
The Polkowice plant is one of the three ore processing
plants, operated by KGHM Polska Miedz S.A in Poland.
All plants are treating a sedimentary ore body where cop-
per sulfide, i.e., chalcocite mineralization occurs in bitu-
minous (black) shales, sandstones, and dolomites with an
average ore grade of 1.4% Cu. With a throughput of more
than 8 million tonnes of ROM ore annually, the Polkowice
The Value of Pneumatic Flotation Demonstrated with
Particle‑Based Separation Models: A Case Study on KGHM
Copper Ore Using Semi-Industrial Imhoflot G-Cell
Duong H. Hoang
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Germany
Maelgwyn Mineral Services Ltd, Cathays, Cardiff, United Kingdom
Lucas Pereira
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Germany
ERZLABOR Advanced Solutions GmbH, Freiberg, Germany
Kai Bachmann
ERZLABOR Advanced Solutions GmbH, Freiberg, Germany
Martin Rudolph
Helmholtz Institute Freiberg for Resource Technology, Germany
ABSTRACT: Pneumatic flotation cells have demonstrated efficiency over conventional tank cells when
recovering fine particles. This study presents the impact of froth height, and recirculation load on the froth
properties and consequently performance of a semi-industrial Imhoflot™ pneumatic G-Cell at the KGHM
Polkowice plant, Poland. The feed, concentrate, and tailings streams were sampled during the pilot test on-site,
and automated mineralogy measurements were conducted. Particle-based separation models were used to better
understand the recovery of individual particles from this complex ore under different operating conditions, to
shed some light into the separation efficiency between chalcocite and different gangue minerals when using
pneumatic flotation.
Keywords: fine particle flotation, particle-based modeling, entrainment, fine bubbles, automated mineralogy
MLA
INTRODUCTION
The ever-increasing metal demand brings the need to pro-
cess low-grade, complex, and finely disseminated ores—a
typical challenge for froth flotation. Even though flotation
is capable of handling relatively fine particle sizes, how-
ever flotation of fine and ultrafine particles still faces many
challenges.
The Polkowice plant is one of the three ore processing
plants, operated by KGHM Polska Miedz S.A in Poland.
All plants are treating a sedimentary ore body where cop-
per sulfide, i.e., chalcocite mineralization occurs in bitu-
minous (black) shales, sandstones, and dolomites with an
average ore grade of 1.4% Cu. With a throughput of more
than 8 million tonnes of ROM ore annually, the Polkowice