Correlation of the entrainment factor with frother types and their mixtures in the column flotation

Abstract

In flotation, entrainment is a mechanical mass transfer process and it is based on the changes depending on the establishment of linear relationship between water and solid recovery. The present paper presents results obtained in investigating the effect of frother mixture concentrations on the entrainment of fine particles’ during the column flotation. The aim of the present study was to investigate more specifically the relationship between the recovery via entrainment of a range of different hydrophilic calcite particles. For this, to determine entrainment factor of fine particle was used a mixture of artificial ore (celestite/calcite; 1:1). The results showed that the frother mixtures had important effect on the grade and recovery, superficial air rate, gas hold-up and entrainment of fine gangue particles. Entrainment factors for frother mixtures were compared in flotation column. Kirjaveinen (1989) model was used for explaining the specific entrainment factor (Pi) of hydrophilic particles and it has been observed that this model supports the results of this study. This, together with the increased recovery, resulted in higher celestite grades of valuable mineral recovered to the concentrate when using the frother mixtures (Pine Oil+MIBC).