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A quality control model for the development of high-confidence flotation test data
This thesis addresses the problem of obtaining reliable laboratory scale flotation test data for the Merensky ore type found in the Bushveld complex of South Africa. The complex nature of the platinum-group element (PGE) deportment in this ore renders the normally-practiced procedures inappropriate...
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| Format: | Thesis |
| Language: | English |
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Department of Chemical Engineering
2016
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| _version_ | 1867613157922439168 |
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| access_status_str | Open Access |
| author | Lotter, Norman Owen |
| author2 | O'Connor, C T |
| author_browse | Lotter, Norman Owen O'Connor, C T |
| author_facet | O'Connor, C T Lotter, Norman Owen |
| author_sort | Lotter, Norman Owen |
| collection | Thesis |
| description | This thesis addresses the problem of obtaining reliable laboratory scale flotation test data for the Merensky ore type found in the Bushveld complex of South Africa. The complex nature of the platinum-group element (PGE) deportment in this ore renders the normally-practiced procedures inappropriate for this particular testwork. A more robust and thorough procedure is necessary because of the diverse mineralogical forms in which the PGE are found. The evaluation of the mass and value balances has accordingly to take these factors into account. The major features of the evaluation of input and output errors across the laboratory scale flotation test are analysed. It is found that unless size-by-size variance of PGE in a conventionally crushed mill feed is taken into account the mill feed sample size is underestimated by some 176%. Further the preparation of a reference distribution of assayed head material is necessary to provide the 95% confidence limits of grade estimate. The need for repeating flotation tests and compositing the adjudicated products is discussed, concluding that quintuplicates are suitable to achieve a desirable level of confidence in the built-up head grade. The sample preparation of the flotation products has a critical role in minimising evaluation errors, as is the case with fire assaying of samples where minimum numbers of replicate determinations have been calculated. An outlier rejection model for adjudication of the replicate built-up head grades is proposed, and a complete flowsheet of the quality control model is developed from first principles. The effect of this model on the PGE total balance is analysed. It is concluded that workable controls are defined, since a metal balance with < 1% error has been achieved. |
| format | Thesis |
| id | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/18298 |
| institution | University of Cape Town (South Africa) |
| language | eng |
| last_indexed | 2026-06-10T12:31:41.113Z |
| license_str | Not specified — see source repository |
| provenance_str_mv | Harvested via OAI-PMH from UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| publishDate | 2016 |
| publishDateRange | 2016 |
| publishDateSort | 2016 |
| publisher | Department of Chemical Engineering |
| publisherStr | Department of Chemical Engineering |
| record_format | dspace |
| source_str | UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository |
| spelling | oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/18298 A quality control model for the development of high-confidence flotation test data Lotter, Norman Owen O'Connor, C T Chemical Engineering This thesis addresses the problem of obtaining reliable laboratory scale flotation test data for the Merensky ore type found in the Bushveld complex of South Africa. The complex nature of the platinum-group element (PGE) deportment in this ore renders the normally-practiced procedures inappropriate for this particular testwork. A more robust and thorough procedure is necessary because of the diverse mineralogical forms in which the PGE are found. The evaluation of the mass and value balances has accordingly to take these factors into account. The major features of the evaluation of input and output errors across the laboratory scale flotation test are analysed. It is found that unless size-by-size variance of PGE in a conventionally crushed mill feed is taken into account the mill feed sample size is underestimated by some 176%. Further the preparation of a reference distribution of assayed head material is necessary to provide the 95% confidence limits of grade estimate. The need for repeating flotation tests and compositing the adjudicated products is discussed, concluding that quintuplicates are suitable to achieve a desirable level of confidence in the built-up head grade. The sample preparation of the flotation products has a critical role in minimising evaluation errors, as is the case with fire assaying of samples where minimum numbers of replicate determinations have been calculated. An outlier rejection model for adjudication of the replicate built-up head grades is proposed, and a complete flowsheet of the quality control model is developed from first principles. The effect of this model on the PGE total balance is analysed. It is concluded that workable controls are defined, since a metal balance with < 1% error has been achieved. 2016-03-28T14:38:05Z 2016-03-28T14:38:05Z 1995 Master Thesis Masters MSc (Chem Eng) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18298 eng application/pdf Department of Chemical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town |
| spellingShingle | Chemical Engineering Lotter, Norman Owen A quality control model for the development of high-confidence flotation test data |
| thesis_degree_str | Master's |
| title | A quality control model for the development of high-confidence flotation test data |
| title_full | A quality control model for the development of high-confidence flotation test data |
| title_fullStr | A quality control model for the development of high-confidence flotation test data |
| title_full_unstemmed | A quality control model for the development of high-confidence flotation test data |
| title_short | A quality control model for the development of high-confidence flotation test data |
| title_sort | quality control model for the development of high confidence flotation test data |
| topic | Chemical Engineering |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/11427/18298 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT lotternormanowen aqualitycontrolmodelforthedevelopmentofhighconfidenceflotationtestdata AT lotternormanowen qualitycontrolmodelforthedevelopmentofhighconfidenceflotationtestdata |