The use of flotation rate data to evaluate reagents

CIM Bulletin, Vol. 76, No. 851, 1983

G.E. AGAR and J.J. BARRETT J. Roy Gordon Research Laboratory, Inco Limited Mississauga, Ontario

Traditionally, batch bench-scale flotation tests have been used for evaluating flotation reagents by comparing the results of tests done with various additions of the reagent in question. Usually, comparisons are made of the concentrate grade and recovery or some figure of merit involving an empirical combination of both. In some cases, statistical methods have been used to make the comparison and even to identify optimal combinations of reagents. None of the preceding technology utilizes the fact that flotation separations can be described by relatively simple kinetic equations that will serve not only to quantitatively describe the influence of a reagent, but will also aid in designing an optimal separation procedure. Examples of the use of a first-order rate equation for evaluating the impact of a reagent addition and for optimizing the reagent addition are given.

Keywords: Mineral processing, Flotation tests, Flotation reagents Sulphide-rock separation, Scheelite-calcite separation, Batch flotation tests.