Study of the Sonication Influence on Improving the Efficiency of Sylvinite Ore Flotation

Abstract

The article presents the study aimed at improvement of the efficiency of flotation by sonication of the process flows. We performed experiments on the influence of ultrasonic radiation in laboratory conditions using the ultrasonic device IL 100-6 and fluidized bed flotation machine 237 FL. We exposed to sonication the rough sylvinite flotation product, the rough sylvinite flotation feed, and the rough sludge flotation feed. We stated the possibility of using ultrasound in the process of sylvinite ore flotation at the cleaner stage, rough sylvinite and sludge flotation. Cleaner flotation of tailings of the rough sylvinite flotation with preliminary sonication increases the recovery of valuable components by reducing the loss of potassium chloride in sludge. It is shown that to improve the efficiency of the sylvinite ore dressing during the rough sylvinite flotation, the duration of the ultrasound exposure should not exceed 2 minutes, and the insoluble residue content in the sylvinite flotation feed should be as low as possible. We found out that sonication of moderate intensity (5.82 W/ cm2) at the stage of sludge flotation reduces the loss of potassium chloride in the sludge froth and increase the weight fraction of the insoluble residue in the froth product. During the research of the ultrasonic treatment of the sludge flotation feed, we noted that sonication should be performed prior to the supply of flotation reagents. Otherwise, the effectiveness of the ultrasonic treatment significantly decreases.