Amenability of column flotation for lead-zinc beneficiation - A case study

The amenability of column flotation technology for the beneficiation of lead and zinc was studied by installing a 3.0 inch dia notation column. Systematic tests were conducted to depress pyrite and graphite and to improve the quality of lead concentrate. The results clearly indicate that the complexity of the existing flotation circuit can be simplified by adopting flotation columns. In the case of zinc, single stage cleaning by flotation column was found to be sufficient instead of four stage cleaning by conventional cells. However two stage column cleaning is essential in the place of existing three stage cleaning by conventional cells to obtain high grade concentrates of lead.