Flotation
GeMMe's Integrated Bench Scale Flotation Platform
- Promotes best practices for bench scale flotation tests
- Develops high confidentiality flotation test procedures
- Integrates grinding and flotation operations
- Matches industrial plant conditions
Selected references: development of several flowsheets for the flotation of Cu-Co oxide ores of the DRC Copperbelt (ENRC, Anvil Mining, Compagnie Minière du Sud Katanga); Flowsheet development for the concentration of Mbemba Kilenda Cu oxide ore, Bas-Congo, DRC ; Optimisation and commissioning of Kansanshi mixed Cu-Au ore flotation line, Zambia (First Quantum); Auditing of Bleïda and Akka mixed Cu ore concentrators, Morocco (Managem); Selection of grinding media alloys for the flotation of Cu-Au IOCG at San Jose, Chile (Pucobre) and at Ellatsite Cu-Mo plant, Bulgaria (Geotechmin).
The Magotteaux Mill®
The Magotteaux Mill® has two chambers: the grinding chamber; and the measuring chamber. The grinding media, ore, water and any reagents, are placed into the grinding chamber. The probes for measuring pulp chemistry during grinding, typically pH, Eh and dissolved oxygen are placed into probe holders in the measuring chamber. The two chambers are separated by the separator plate, which has circular grates covered with 400 micron mesh to allow the flow of slurry containing -400 micron particles from the grinding chamber to the measuring chamber. A peristaltic pump is used to pump the slurry out of the measuring chamber and back into the grinding chamber, such that the slurry being measured is refreshed continuously.
Schematic cross section of the Magotteaux Mill®
Gases (air or nitrogen) are added into the slurry recirculation line to control the Eh and dissolved oxygen concentration of the slurry during grinding. The pH of slurry in the Magotteaux Mill® is controlled by dosing lime into the measuring chamber of the mill throughout the grind. The Magotteaux Mill® has a heating coil in the mill shell that allows the slurry to be heated to a set temperature. In this way, the Magotteaux Mill® allows the pulp chemistry to be measured and controlled so that the conditions in the plant ball mill discharge can be replicated in the laboratory mill discharge.
The Magotteaux Flotation Machine
The Magotteaux Flotation Machine is a bottom driven laboratory flotation machine developed by Magotteaux Australia.
Features of the Magotteaux Flotation Machine are: bottom driven impellor, allowing an unobstructed froth surface; air is introduced into the base of the cell through special one-way valves; pulp chemistry probes can be permanently mounted into the rear of the cell during a test for continuous measurement; and impellor speed is digitally controlled.
All of these features provide for less operator variability and high reproducibility between tests.
Bottom driven Magotteaux flotation cell and Magotteaux Mill®
