INVESTIGATION OF THE ENTRAINMENT OF FINE SIZED CALCITE AND CHROMITE PARTICLES BY A FLOTATION COLUMN WITH NEGATIVE BIAS REGIME

Abstract

Negatively Biased Flotation Column (NBFC) is a tool, which is developed for the flotation of coarse-sized ores. Unlike the conventional flotation column, in this column, there is no froth zone and wash-water is usually not used. Therefore, hydrodynamically entrainment of fine-sized particles into the concentrate is possible, and this may result in a decrease in the grade or yield of the concentrate.
 In this study, operating parameters that can affect the entrainment of fine-sized particles were investigated. Calcite with a grade of 99.4% (CaCO3) and chromite concentrates with a grade of 54.8% (Cr2O3) were used in the experiments. Parameters such as superficial water flowrate, particle size, air flow rate, frother dosage and particle density were used in the experiments. As a result of the experiments, it was determined that the amount of entrainment increased as the particle size and density decreased, and decreased with increasing superficial water flowrate, air flow rate and frother dosage.