What is the procedure for laboratory flotation?
Laboratory Flotation Test Content
Flotation is the primary process for separating fine-grained ores, especially non-ferrous metals, rare metals, non-metallic ores, and soluble salts. Laboratory flotation test is an essential content in most ore washability studies.
1. Contents of laboratory flotation test
The main contents of the flotation test include:
① Determine the selection scheme;
②Test and analyze the factors affecting the process to determine the primary and secondary roles and the mutual influence degree of each factor, and determine the best conditions for the process;
③Prepare the final sorting index and other necessary technical indexes.
Since the selective separation of constituent minerals is based on differences in mineral floatability, adjusting the mineral floatability with various reagents is the key to flotation testing.
2. Procedure for laboratory flotation test
A laboratory flotation washability test is usually carried out according to the following procedures.
①Formulate a principle scheme
Taking into account the properties of the studied ore, as well as the existing production experience and professional knowledge, the principle scheme is formulated. Polymetallic sulfide ore, for example, can be floated using full mixed flotation, partial mixed flotation, preferential flotation, and so on; Hematite can be floated using positive flotation, reverse flotation, flocculation flotation, and so forth. Only systematic tests can be carried out on each possible scheme if the principle scheme cannot be determined in advance. The process conditions and indexes are determined by technical and economic comparison.
② Prepare test conditions, such as sample preparation, equipment and instrument maintenance.
③ Pretest
During the pre-test, possible research schemes, principle processes, general separation conditions, and possible indicators of the selected ore are explored.
④ Condition test (or system test)
Prepare a detailed test plan and carry out systematic tests to determine the optimal flotation conditions based on the pre-determined scheme and approximate separation conditions.
⑤ Closed-circuit test
The test is a batch test that imitates the continuous production process on discontinuous equipment, e.g., a series of closed-circuit laboratory tests that add medium ore from the previous test to its corresponding location in the next test. In this study, the purpose is to determine the impact of middling, verify the flotation conditions and processes, and determine the final indicators.
After small-scale laboratory tests have been completed, it is generally necessary to conduct laboratory flotation continuous tests (referred to as continuous separation tests), and at times semi-industrial tests or even industrial tests.
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