Correlation Between Surface and Flotation in Silicates
Experimental studies on the flotation of silicate minerals go back at least thirty or forty years (Bull, 1929; Bull, Ellefson, and Tylor, 1934; Fuerstenau, 1962; and Gaudin, Glover, Hansen, and Orr, 1928). These investigations for the most part have been empirical and have failed to give detailed information on the nature of the silicate-solution interface. […]
Depressants and Flocculants in Iron Ore Beneficiation – Starches and Starch Derivatives
This article discusses the effect of physical and chemical modifications of starches on the anionic and cationic flotation of silica from oxidized iron ores and magnetite-taconite concentrates, and the results of the interaction of starch, pH, and calcium ions on the flocculation, clarification, and filtration of iron ore slimes and magnetite- taconite tailings. Starches, particularly […]
How does Cyanide Depress Pyrite – Mechanisms
Oxidation potentials have been measured in the presence of various concentrations of cyanide, ferrocyanide, and ferricyanide and ethyl xanthate at various values of pH and related to flotation response. Eh-pH diagrams are constructed and show that the formation of surface ferric ferrocyanide is probably responsible for depression when cyanide is added. Experimental Materials and Techniques […]
Flotation Cell Hydrodynamics
A fully-instrumented driving mechanism has been constructed to study the power, aerating and solid suspension characteristics of several laboratory flotation machines. Machines operating over normal flotation speed ranges give constant power numbers in liquid systems indicating that they operate under fully baffled turbulent flow conditions. Owing to lack of geometrical scaling, power numbers for different […]
Emulsion Flotation
Because of the extensive surface area of oil droplets in emulsions, emulsion flotation offers possibilities for the recovery of finely divided mineral particles. Surfactants must stabilize the emulsion and possess an affinity for the desired minerals. Other important factors are the nature of the emulsion ingredients, the relative volumes of the continuous and discontinuous phases, […]
Beneficiation of Iron Concentrates by Cationic Flotation
Silica flotation with amine salts has been a commercial process for years in certain non-sulfide mineral systems. Phosphate rock and feldspar deposits are notable examples. Generally, the quartz is clean and coarse. Primary amines and imidazolines are used, usually in a mole weight range 250-300, and often fairly impure grades of collectors are satisfactory. The […]
Recover Copper from Reverberatory Furnace Slag
Laboratory and pilot plant investigations have indicated that copper recoveries of 50% can be achieved with fine grinding and flotation of a copper reverberatory furnace slag. Microscopic and microprobe studies indicate that the recoverable copper is in the form of matte, chalcocite, and metallic copper; the percentage of copper in particles appearing to be copper-free was […]
Flotation Plant Optimization
A mathematical model was developed for the grinding and flotation section of Union Carbide’s Bishop mill and this model was used to indicate how variations in grind, retention time, and calcite and fluorite content effects the mill capacity, tungsten units produced, and the grade and recovery of the scheelite concentrate. A model such as this […]
Water in Fluorspar Flotation
Water has received little attention as a variable in flotation, even though it is a known fact that water hardness often has an adverse effect on purity and recovery, particularly on the flotation of non-metallic minerals. Because of this fact, process water used in some flotation plants is treated to reduce hardness to an acceptable […]
Chrysocolla Sulfidization and Flotation
Studies of sulfidization and flotation of chrysocolla involving the use of pH and sulfide ion instruments, a Zeta meter, microflotation techniques, and sensitive determinations of adsorbed sulfur have given new insight into the mechanism of the process. Factors that affect the recovery of sulfidized chrysocolla by flotation appear to be the pH at which it […]