EFFECT OF FROTHER ON THE SELECTIVITY OF FLOTATION

Claudio Acua and Mario Gamboa Chemical Engineering Department, Univesidad Catlica del Norte S. Ramachandra Rao Department of Mining and Materials Engineering, McGill University

Procemin 2011

Claudio Acua cacuna@ucn.cl

INTRODUCTION: Flotation Mechanisms

entrainment
fine particles carried by water

true flotation
Hydrophobic particles collected selectively by bubbles

INTRODUCTION: Flotation

entrainment
fine particles carried by water (hydrophobic or hydrophilic) Positive effect in case of valuable mineral (increase recovery)

Negative effect Hydrophilic or not valuable (grade reduction)

Water recovery and entrainment

RECOVERY - 5m QUARTZ, %

40 30 20 10

frother mg/L

% solids

5 6 2.5

16 27 16

slope ~ 0.7

10

20

30

40

50

60

WATER RECOVERY, %
Adapted from, Trahar, Int. J. Min. Proc. 8:289-327, 1981

Water recovery and entrainment

Controlling water recovery entrainment can be controlled

bubble Hydrophobic particle Hydrophilic particle

"water layer"

Frother molecular structure

Water recovery and gas holdup

0.5 Pentanol Hept, Hex , MIBC,DF200 Octanol, Ethoxy, DF250 F150

0.4

J wo , cm/s

0.3

0.2 0.1

0 10 15 20

g, %

25

30

35

Adapted from: Finch, Gelinas, Moyo. Min. Eng. 19: 726-733, 2006

Water recovery and entrainment

Can be controlled either by manipulating frother type/concentration or varying gas hold-up

Objectives
Evaluate at pilot scale the effect of frother type on hydrophilic particles. Establish operating recommendations to control entrainment through frother selection

Experimental set up
Pilot column (3 m height alto and 7,5 cm ) Differential pressure transmitters Peristaltic pumps Mass flow meter Quartz / tap water system: Solid content 10% (only silica) Particle size (100% under 80 microns) Frothers (Cytec): MIBC (methil isobutil carbinol) 2-Ethilhexanol Polyglycol blend (OREPREP F 570)

Results: Effect of frother concentration

2-Ethilhexanol, froth depth 7cm.

Results Jwo: Effect of frother type

15, 30, 50 ppm

Effect of frother type on entrainment

12 10 Qurzt recovery, % 8 6 4 2 0 8 9 10 11 12 Gas holdup, % Polyglycols, 80 ppm MIBC 80 ppm

Effect of frother type and water layer

How does frother molecular structure determine the amount of water carried to the froth?

from, J. Finch, Short Course, 2005

Film thickness: UV
0.13

MIBC
0.12

< 160 nm
0.11
200 400 600 800 1000

0.10

0.09

0.08 200 0.12

200

400

600

800

1000

400

600

800

1000

0.10

D250

0.08

A
500 600

600 nm
700 800 900 1000 1100

0.06

0.04

500

600

700

800

900

1000

1100
500 600 700 800 900 1000 1100

Wavelength (nm)

from, J. Finch, Short Course, 2005

14

Conclusions (Summary: Moyo &Trahar)

Each frother has a characteristic Jwo (superficial water velocity) vs. gas holdup curve. The superficial water velocity in the concentrate is associated with the recovery of hydrophilic particles by entrainment. Since frother type affects the amount of water reported to the concentrate, the recovery of hydrophilic particles is also affected.

Conclusions
The water recovery and the recovery of hydrophilic particles is related to the frother structure and molecular weight. The results suggest that frother type could influence the grade-recovery curve. The more water the frother carries to the concentrate, the more the flotation by entrainment and lower the grade for a given recovery. Frother type appears to be another variable to improve flotation selectivity .

Acknowledgments
CONICYT, Fondecyt Project 11090269. CYTEC Chile Limitada, providing reagents and technical support.

RESULTADOS
%Re finos v/s %Re agua