2990 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
solids. Moreover, diluting the pulp improved the combus-
tible recovery by 10%.
CONCLUSIONS
The effect of pulp solids and Blast Tube residence time
was investigated using graphite and metallurgical coal on a
laboratory-scale Concorde Cell. The following conclusions
were made from the experimental results:
• Regardless of the pulp solids and sample used,
extending the Blast Tube residence time by changing
capacity from high volume to low volume resulted in
faster kinetics. The delta on kinetic and grade-recov-
ery curves reached a maximum at the highest solids
percentage.
• Using Blast Tube 2 (higher volume) doubles the resi-
dence time compared to Blast Tube 1 (lower volume)
and consequently improves the carbon grades in
graphite and provides better selectivity against ash in
the metallurgical coal sample.
• The evidence suggests that residence time change due
to feed flow rate variation has quite a similar impact
on flotation performance as varying the Blast Tube
capacity.
• It was observed that the flotation rate is correlated
with pulp solids. The lower pulp solids resulted in
faster kinetics irrespective of the sample used.
• Diluting the pulp density led to improvement in
recovery and grade, less ash content for the coal
sample.
In this study, the effect of pulp density and residence time
was examined. The findings pointed out that flotation
kinetic rates and performance are conclusively affected by
pulp solids and residence time. To get a better understand-
ing of this relation, more research should be done with
various sample types and operating parameters, such as dif-
ferent pressure drops, Air-to-Pulp Ratios, and particle size
distribution. Thus, optimum residence and pulp density
can be determined depending on the specific applications.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank mineral processing laboratory work-
ers in Metso Research Center for helping with the sample
handling.
REFERENCES
Ahmed, N., &Jameson, G. (1985). The effect of bubble size
on the rate of flotation of fine particles. International
Journal of Mineral Processing, 14(3), 195–215.
Ball, M., Kupka, N., Bermudez, G., &Yañez, A. (2023).
ConcordeCellTM technology retrofit effect on an exist-
ing self-aspirated flotation cell MetPlant Conference,
Adelaide, Australia.
Dai, Z., Fornasiero, D., &Ralston, J. (1999). Particle–
bubble attachment in mineral flotation. Journal of col-
loid and interface science, 217(1), 70–76.
Dobby, G.S., &Finch, J.A. (1987). Particle size depen-
dence in flotation is derived from a fundamental
model of the capture process. International Journal of
Mineral Processing, 21(3–4), 241–260. http://dx.doi
.org/10.1016/0301‑7516(87)90057‑3.
Farrokhpay, S., Filippov, L., &Fornasiero, D. (2021).
Flotation of Fine Particles: A Review. Mineral Processing
and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 42(7), 473–483. doi:
10.1080/08827508.2020.1793140.
Frew, J.A. (1982). Variation of flotation rate coefficients in
zinc cleaning circuits. International Journal of Mineral
Processing, 9(2), 173–189.
Hassanzadeh, A., Azizi, A., Kouachi, S., Karimi, M., &
Celik, M.S. (2019). Estimation of flotation rate con-
stant and particle-bubble interactions considering key
hydrodynamic parameters and their interrelations.
Minerals Engineering, 141, 105836. doi: 10.1016/j.
mineng.2019.105836.
Jameson, G.J. (2010a). Advances in fine and coarse parti-
cle flotation. Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly, 49(4),
325–330.
Jameson, G.J. (2010b). New directions in flotation machine
design. Minerals Engineering, 23(11–13), 835–841.
Jameson, G.J., Nguyen, A.V., &Ata, S. (2007). The flota-
tion of fine and coarse particles.
Kupka, N., &Yañez, A. (2022, 08-09.02.2022). Opening
a new way to fine and ultrafine particles recovery in flo-
tation with the Concorde Cell Conference in Minerals
Engineering 2022, Luleå, Sweden.
Kupka, N., Suhonen, J., Bird, M., &Yañez, A. (2023a).
Benchmarking the metallurgical performance of the
Concorde CellTM at lab, pilot and industrial scales
55th Annual Canadian Mineral Processors Operators
Conference, Ottawa, Canada.
Kupka, N., Suhonen, J., Tunc, B., Yáñez, A., &Rinne, A.
(2023b, 6th to 9th of November, 2023). Metallurgical
performance of the Concorde CellTM at industrial scale
Flotation ‘23, Cape Town, South Africa. Lynch, A.J.,
Johnson, N.W., Manlapig, E.V., &Thorne, C.G.
(1981). Mineral and coal flotation circuits: Their simu-
lation and control.
solids. Moreover, diluting the pulp improved the combus-
tible recovery by 10%.
CONCLUSIONS
The effect of pulp solids and Blast Tube residence time
was investigated using graphite and metallurgical coal on a
laboratory-scale Concorde Cell. The following conclusions
were made from the experimental results:
• Regardless of the pulp solids and sample used,
extending the Blast Tube residence time by changing
capacity from high volume to low volume resulted in
faster kinetics. The delta on kinetic and grade-recov-
ery curves reached a maximum at the highest solids
percentage.
• Using Blast Tube 2 (higher volume) doubles the resi-
dence time compared to Blast Tube 1 (lower volume)
and consequently improves the carbon grades in
graphite and provides better selectivity against ash in
the metallurgical coal sample.
• The evidence suggests that residence time change due
to feed flow rate variation has quite a similar impact
on flotation performance as varying the Blast Tube
capacity.
• It was observed that the flotation rate is correlated
with pulp solids. The lower pulp solids resulted in
faster kinetics irrespective of the sample used.
• Diluting the pulp density led to improvement in
recovery and grade, less ash content for the coal
sample.
In this study, the effect of pulp density and residence time
was examined. The findings pointed out that flotation
kinetic rates and performance are conclusively affected by
pulp solids and residence time. To get a better understand-
ing of this relation, more research should be done with
various sample types and operating parameters, such as dif-
ferent pressure drops, Air-to-Pulp Ratios, and particle size
distribution. Thus, optimum residence and pulp density
can be determined depending on the specific applications.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
I would like to thank mineral processing laboratory work-
ers in Metso Research Center for helping with the sample
handling.
REFERENCES
Ahmed, N., &Jameson, G. (1985). The effect of bubble size
on the rate of flotation of fine particles. International
Journal of Mineral Processing, 14(3), 195–215.
Ball, M., Kupka, N., Bermudez, G., &Yañez, A. (2023).
ConcordeCellTM technology retrofit effect on an exist-
ing self-aspirated flotation cell MetPlant Conference,
Adelaide, Australia.
Dai, Z., Fornasiero, D., &Ralston, J. (1999). Particle–
bubble attachment in mineral flotation. Journal of col-
loid and interface science, 217(1), 70–76.
Dobby, G.S., &Finch, J.A. (1987). Particle size depen-
dence in flotation is derived from a fundamental
model of the capture process. International Journal of
Mineral Processing, 21(3–4), 241–260. http://dx.doi
.org/10.1016/0301‑7516(87)90057‑3.
Farrokhpay, S., Filippov, L., &Fornasiero, D. (2021).
Flotation of Fine Particles: A Review. Mineral Processing
and Extractive Metallurgy Review, 42(7), 473–483. doi:
10.1080/08827508.2020.1793140.
Frew, J.A. (1982). Variation of flotation rate coefficients in
zinc cleaning circuits. International Journal of Mineral
Processing, 9(2), 173–189.
Hassanzadeh, A., Azizi, A., Kouachi, S., Karimi, M., &
Celik, M.S. (2019). Estimation of flotation rate con-
stant and particle-bubble interactions considering key
hydrodynamic parameters and their interrelations.
Minerals Engineering, 141, 105836. doi: 10.1016/j.
mineng.2019.105836.
Jameson, G.J. (2010a). Advances in fine and coarse parti-
cle flotation. Canadian Metallurgical Quarterly, 49(4),
325–330.
Jameson, G.J. (2010b). New directions in flotation machine
design. Minerals Engineering, 23(11–13), 835–841.
Jameson, G.J., Nguyen, A.V., &Ata, S. (2007). The flota-
tion of fine and coarse particles.
Kupka, N., &Yañez, A. (2022, 08-09.02.2022). Opening
a new way to fine and ultrafine particles recovery in flo-
tation with the Concorde Cell Conference in Minerals
Engineering 2022, Luleå, Sweden.
Kupka, N., Suhonen, J., Bird, M., &Yañez, A. (2023a).
Benchmarking the metallurgical performance of the
Concorde CellTM at lab, pilot and industrial scales
55th Annual Canadian Mineral Processors Operators
Conference, Ottawa, Canada.
Kupka, N., Suhonen, J., Tunc, B., Yáñez, A., &Rinne, A.
(2023b, 6th to 9th of November, 2023). Metallurgical
performance of the Concorde CellTM at industrial scale
Flotation ‘23, Cape Town, South Africa. Lynch, A.J.,
Johnson, N.W., Manlapig, E.V., &Thorne, C.G.
(1981). Mineral and coal flotation circuits: Their simu-
lation and control.