Use of bubble load to interpret particle transport across the pulp-froth interface in a flotation cell
 
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University of South Africa
 
 
Publication date: 2019-11-24
 
 
Corresponding author
Clayton Bhondayi   

University of South Africa
 
 
Physicochem. Probl. Miner. Process. 2020;56(1):54-63
 
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ABSTRACT
This work demonstrates the use of bubble loads to understand the transport of particles across the pulp-froth interface in a flotation cell processing an Upper Group 2 chromitite seam (UG2) ore. Bubble loads were measured on the first primary cleaner cell of an operating flotation plant using a bubble load meter with a 20mm riser diameter. A bubble load value of 10.58grams/liter was obtained. The bubble load data was used to understand, entrainment and dropback of chromite as a function of particle size. By defining terms such as froth flow number and net dropback, it was found that chromite (known to be non-floatable) was also recovered through true flotation. The entrainment of chromite was found to be predominantly in -25 μm size while +25 μm size particles were found to be floatable and highly susceptible to dropping back. Net-dropback of chromite particles was found to increase with a decrease in chromite particle size contrary to expectation. An overall froth flow number of 69% was obtained.
eISSN:2084-4735
ISSN:1643-1049
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