2984 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
Low flotation recovery of fine–ultrafine minerals is
strongly related to given residence time (Wills &Finch,
2016) because of their slow kinetic rate. Pease et al. (2006)
emphasized that as long as specific requirements are pro-
vided in the flotation circuit, the fine particle can be floated
very well with high flotation recovery if the flotation time
is kept long enough.
The flotation rate of fine-ultrafine particles is also
strongly dependent on pulp density. Runge et al. (2012)
showed that the kinetic rate of copper gets faster at lower
pulp density in the pulp phase, on the contrary, the froth
stability is affected negatively. The reason for faster flota-
tion kinetic rates was explained by increased bubble particle
collision and attached probability due to a highly turbu-
lent environment. The study done by Frew (1982) has also
indicated a positive effect of low pulp density on flotation
rates. The findings from Morar et al. (2012) show that the
froth stability increases as solid loading increases in the
froth phase, meaning that higher pulp density in the feed
will result in more stable froth. On the other hand, this
may result in bubble overloading and worsen the flotation
performance (Lynch et al., 1981).
The Concorde Cell was invented and patented by
Professor Jameson of the University of Newcastle in 2010.
(Jameson, 2010b). The Concorde technology was further
developed and commercialized by Metso in 2021 (Metso,
2021). The effect of the Air-to-Pulp Ratio (APR), of froth
washing and froth depth was already explored by Yáñez
et al. (2024) and already demonstrated strong metallurgi-
cal performance on various ore types (Ball et al. (2023)
Jameson (2010) Kupka et al. (2023a) Kupka and Yañez
(2022) Tunc et al. (2022) and Kupka et al. (2023b). To
better understand the extent of pulp density and residence
time impact on flotation performance, a series of experi-
ments were conducted using the Concorde Cell Lab Unit
in Metso Pori Research Center, Finland. The tests were
planned in two individual experiment sets, in the first set
of experiments the feed pulp solids were varied and in the
second residence time was varied by changing the feed flow
rate and Blast Tube sizes.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The Concorde Cell™—Technology Description
Concorde Cell is presented in Figure 1. It mainly consists
of a Blast Tube (3), an impingement bowl (7), and a sepa-
ration/flotation tank. The feed (1) is pumped through the
Blast Tube where the first nozzle is located, and once the
Figure 1. Concorde Cell diagram and Blast Tube (Kupka &Yañez, 2022)
Low flotation recovery of fine–ultrafine minerals is
strongly related to given residence time (Wills &Finch,
2016) because of their slow kinetic rate. Pease et al. (2006)
emphasized that as long as specific requirements are pro-
vided in the flotation circuit, the fine particle can be floated
very well with high flotation recovery if the flotation time
is kept long enough.
The flotation rate of fine-ultrafine particles is also
strongly dependent on pulp density. Runge et al. (2012)
showed that the kinetic rate of copper gets faster at lower
pulp density in the pulp phase, on the contrary, the froth
stability is affected negatively. The reason for faster flota-
tion kinetic rates was explained by increased bubble particle
collision and attached probability due to a highly turbu-
lent environment. The study done by Frew (1982) has also
indicated a positive effect of low pulp density on flotation
rates. The findings from Morar et al. (2012) show that the
froth stability increases as solid loading increases in the
froth phase, meaning that higher pulp density in the feed
will result in more stable froth. On the other hand, this
may result in bubble overloading and worsen the flotation
performance (Lynch et al., 1981).
The Concorde Cell was invented and patented by
Professor Jameson of the University of Newcastle in 2010.
(Jameson, 2010b). The Concorde technology was further
developed and commercialized by Metso in 2021 (Metso,
2021). The effect of the Air-to-Pulp Ratio (APR), of froth
washing and froth depth was already explored by Yáñez
et al. (2024) and already demonstrated strong metallurgi-
cal performance on various ore types (Ball et al. (2023)
Jameson (2010) Kupka et al. (2023a) Kupka and Yañez
(2022) Tunc et al. (2022) and Kupka et al. (2023b). To
better understand the extent of pulp density and residence
time impact on flotation performance, a series of experi-
ments were conducted using the Concorde Cell Lab Unit
in Metso Pori Research Center, Finland. The tests were
planned in two individual experiment sets, in the first set
of experiments the feed pulp solids were varied and in the
second residence time was varied by changing the feed flow
rate and Blast Tube sizes.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
The Concorde Cell™—Technology Description
Concorde Cell is presented in Figure 1. It mainly consists
of a Blast Tube (3), an impingement bowl (7), and a sepa-
ration/flotation tank. The feed (1) is pumped through the
Blast Tube where the first nozzle is located, and once the
Figure 1. Concorde Cell diagram and Blast Tube (Kupka &Yañez, 2022)