Quality improvement of copper concentrates by column flotation

Abstract

Detailed laboratory column flotation tests were conducted to improve the quality of copper concentrate at Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) of Hindusthan Copper Limited (HCL). Amenability of column as cleaner was studied on the rougher concentrates of lean and typical copper ores. Effect of column parameters viz. air flow rate, feed flow rate and column height were studied in addition to usual flotation parameters. Performance of column was found to be far superior compared to conventional mechanical cells in obtaining cleaner concentrates. The studies established the feasibility of reducing the acid insolubles in the cleaner concentrates to as low as 2-3% by adoption of column in cleaner circuit.