XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 727
Post flotation reagents used were the coagulant and
flocculant at dosages of 15 g/t and 8 g/t respectively. Both
were supplied by the company aforementioned. Table 3
shows their characteristics.
Ore Milling
A tumbling mill was used for milling 1 kg ore samples in
the presence of varying PW and SIBX collector dosages.
This was done to achieve a grind size of 80% passing 75 μm
to make a slurry of 66% solids in the mill.
Batch Flotation
In order to prepare the concentrate slurry for sedimentation
in varying flotation reagent suites, The UCT 3 L Barker flo-
tation cell was used for the batch experiments. The milled
slurry was transferred into the cell and prepared plant water
of either 1 or 10 PW quality was added to achieve a 35
wt% solids pulp density. Subsequently, CMC was initially
added for conditioning according to the standard UCT flo-
tation procedure (Wiese et al., 2005). This was followed by
two feed samples being taken from the cell using two 50
mL syringes. The samples were later filtered, dried and sent
for XRF analysis in the analytical laboratory. The PGMEM
frother, Flotanol 200, was added to the cell with a condi-
tioning time of 1 minute. Thereafter, aeration was intro-
duced into the cell. This ensured a froth forming that was
maintained at a height of 2 cm. The intervals of collecting
the concentrate were every 15 seconds with a total flotation
time of 23 minutes. Table 4 presents the cell parameters
together with the floating conditions employed. A material
balance around the system ensured that each concentrate
mass could be obtained, which was important considering
the sedimentation aspect of the experimental programme.
All the batch experiments were carried-out in dupli-
cate for the determination and minimisation of standard
error. The flotation results presented in this paper show
the average values of the duplicates, with the error bars
on the graphs representing the standard error between
the two experimental values. Table 5 shows the acceptable
error limits of the total solids and water recoveries for the
UCT Standard Batch Flotation Procedure and the results
Table 1. Salts used in the making of synthetic water for batch flotation, 1 PW and 10 PW
Salt Name Chemical Formula
Quantity, g/L
1 PW
Quantity, g/L
10 PW
Potassium chloride KCl 0,024 0,242
Magnesium chloride MgCl2 0,047 0,471
Calcium chloride CaCl
2 0,064 0,636
Sodium chloride NaCl 0,176 1,76
Sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3 0,253 2,52
Sodium sulfate Na2SO4 0,286 2,86
Table 2. Batch flotation reagents used with their dosages
Reagent Name ID
Dosages, g/t
Low High
Collector SIBX Gemcol 50 150
Depressant CMC Finnfix 300 0 60
Frother PGMEM Flotanol 200 40 60
Table 3. Post flotation reagents used for the dewatering of
concentrates
Reagent ID Dosage, g/t
Coagulant WM 8305 15
Flocculant WM 7530 8
Table 4. Flotation cell parameters and floating conditions
used
Description Value
Aeration rate (L/min) 7
Impeller speed (rpm) 1200
Froth scraping intervals (seconds) 15
CMC condition time (minutes) 3
Frother condition time (minutes) 1
Froth height maintained (centimeters) 2
Tray C1 concentrate collection time (minutes) 2
Tray C2 concentrate collection time (minutes) 4
Tray C3 concentrate collection time (minutes) 6
Tray C4 concentrate collection time (minutes) 8
Post flotation reagents used were the coagulant and
flocculant at dosages of 15 g/t and 8 g/t respectively. Both
were supplied by the company aforementioned. Table 3
shows their characteristics.
Ore Milling
A tumbling mill was used for milling 1 kg ore samples in
the presence of varying PW and SIBX collector dosages.
This was done to achieve a grind size of 80% passing 75 μm
to make a slurry of 66% solids in the mill.
Batch Flotation
In order to prepare the concentrate slurry for sedimentation
in varying flotation reagent suites, The UCT 3 L Barker flo-
tation cell was used for the batch experiments. The milled
slurry was transferred into the cell and prepared plant water
of either 1 or 10 PW quality was added to achieve a 35
wt% solids pulp density. Subsequently, CMC was initially
added for conditioning according to the standard UCT flo-
tation procedure (Wiese et al., 2005). This was followed by
two feed samples being taken from the cell using two 50
mL syringes. The samples were later filtered, dried and sent
for XRF analysis in the analytical laboratory. The PGMEM
frother, Flotanol 200, was added to the cell with a condi-
tioning time of 1 minute. Thereafter, aeration was intro-
duced into the cell. This ensured a froth forming that was
maintained at a height of 2 cm. The intervals of collecting
the concentrate were every 15 seconds with a total flotation
time of 23 minutes. Table 4 presents the cell parameters
together with the floating conditions employed. A material
balance around the system ensured that each concentrate
mass could be obtained, which was important considering
the sedimentation aspect of the experimental programme.
All the batch experiments were carried-out in dupli-
cate for the determination and minimisation of standard
error. The flotation results presented in this paper show
the average values of the duplicates, with the error bars
on the graphs representing the standard error between
the two experimental values. Table 5 shows the acceptable
error limits of the total solids and water recoveries for the
UCT Standard Batch Flotation Procedure and the results
Table 1. Salts used in the making of synthetic water for batch flotation, 1 PW and 10 PW
Salt Name Chemical Formula
Quantity, g/L
1 PW
Quantity, g/L
10 PW
Potassium chloride KCl 0,024 0,242
Magnesium chloride MgCl2 0,047 0,471
Calcium chloride CaCl
2 0,064 0,636
Sodium chloride NaCl 0,176 1,76
Sodium bicarbonate NaHCO3 0,253 2,52
Sodium sulfate Na2SO4 0,286 2,86
Table 2. Batch flotation reagents used with their dosages
Reagent Name ID
Dosages, g/t
Low High
Collector SIBX Gemcol 50 150
Depressant CMC Finnfix 300 0 60
Frother PGMEM Flotanol 200 40 60
Table 3. Post flotation reagents used for the dewatering of
concentrates
Reagent ID Dosage, g/t
Coagulant WM 8305 15
Flocculant WM 7530 8
Table 4. Flotation cell parameters and floating conditions
used
Description Value
Aeration rate (L/min) 7
Impeller speed (rpm) 1200
Froth scraping intervals (seconds) 15
CMC condition time (minutes) 3
Frother condition time (minutes) 1
Froth height maintained (centimeters) 2
Tray C1 concentrate collection time (minutes) 2
Tray C2 concentrate collection time (minutes) 4
Tray C3 concentrate collection time (minutes) 6
Tray C4 concentrate collection time (minutes) 8