Metallurgical performance of column and mechanical flotation as a rougher circuit in sphalerite ore flotation with %solid and frother dose variation

Abstract

Column flotation is commonly used in cleaner circuits at the ore beneficiacy industry. However, this research wants to apply the column to the rougher circuit as an alternative to the mechanical flotation due to its energy efficiency which is 80% more efficient. This research was conducted using column and mechanical flotation cells to observe their metallurgical performance as a rougher circuit. The feed is sphalerite ore at size -140+230# with variables of % solid 7.5;10; 12.5; 15 and doses of frother 20;30;40; and 50ppm. Reagents used include OrePrep, Potassium Amyl Xanthate 500g/ton, copper sulfate 500g/ton, and soda ash 500g/ton. Flotation process is carried out 5 minutes for conditioning and 10 minutes for aeration. The results obtained the recovery value and grade. The results from the experiment, it can be concluded that the recovery obtained by mechanical is superior, and for column flotation grade is superior. In the variation of solid percent and frother dose, recovery increases to the maximum point and then decreases because no signifant effect after maximum point. The recommended variables for mechanical flotation are 12.5 solid% and 50ppm frother dose, because the recovery worth 75.462%. For column flotation, 15% and 40ppm, obtain the highest recovery 53.439%.