Roughing and cleaning flotation behaviour and the realistic simulation of complete plant performance

Abstract

Data are presented which illustrate a range of flotation behaviour observed for roughing and cleaning operations in industrial plants. Differences are observed in the size by size recoveries in cleaner flotation from those measured in the roughers. The implications of these differences to flotation modelling are discussed, and the importance of conducting confirmatory laboratory batch flotation tests is emphasized. Batch flotation tests have indicated that for certain minerals the flotation characteristics in the cleaner tests are substantially different from those in rougher tests conducted under the same conditions of pulp level, impeller speed, aeration rate and froth removal. The differences are most pronounced for the coarse particles. Computer simulations of a rougher-cleaner circuit have been done to illustrate the effects of these differences on predicted circuit performance. The differences are significant and arise mainly from differences in the behaviour of coarse particles.