Pilot scale studies on the beneficiation of complex sulphides by flotation column

Abstract

Experiments using pilot size flotation Column as cleaner cell were conducted to evolve a suitable flow sheet for the production of bulk sulphide concentrates of Cu-Pb-Zn. The flotalion circuit consisting of roughing, scavenging, and two stage cleaning by conventional flotation machines was compared with the circuit where two stage cleaning operation was replaced with single stage cleaning by flotation column. It is clearly demonstrated that a single stage cleaning by flotation column is more efficient and sufficient to obtain bulk concentrate suitable for further processing. Of the two types of sparger systems used viz, TURBO and MICROCEL, the former was found to be better to achieve high quality concentrate.