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The determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell, performance in the flotation of pyrite

This masters dissertation an column flotation is to determine the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell performance in the flotation of pyrite. Hypotheses are also proposed to explain observed changes. Chapter one gives a brief description of flotation columns, som...

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Main Author: Schommarz, Klaus Helmuth
Other Authors: O'Connor, Cyril T
Format: Thesis
Language:English
Published: Department of Chemical Engineering 2016
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access_status_str Open Access
author Schommarz, Klaus Helmuth
author2 O'Connor, Cyril T
author_browse O'Connor, Cyril T
Schommarz, Klaus Helmuth
author_facet O'Connor, Cyril T
Schommarz, Klaus Helmuth
author_sort Schommarz, Klaus Helmuth
collection Thesis
description This masters dissertation an column flotation is to determine the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell performance in the flotation of pyrite. Hypotheses are also proposed to explain observed changes. Chapter one gives a brief description of flotation columns, some applications of flotation columns and a literature survey that covers the effects of various physical and chemical parameters. Chapter two states the objective of this research and the plan of action used to achieve this objective. Chapter three describes the first part of the plan of action, namely to design a laboratory flotation column and to draw up an experimental procedure. A flotation column rig with an adequately repeatable experimental procedure is the result. The repeatability and sensitivity of the experimental procedure is given in chapter four. This chapter also includes the results obtained when the physical and chemical parameters are varied. The effects on the flotation cell performance by varying parameters are summarised. The biggest changes observed in the flotation column cell performance are as follows: 1) An increased air rate yields an optimum sulphur recovery. 2) Concentrate sulphur grades decrease when the air rate is increased. 3) The concentrate grades increase when the froth depth is increased. 4) Increasing the feed solids percent to the flotation column has no effect on the concentrate grades and recoveries as long as the column is operated below its maximum carrying capacity. 5) The concentrate grades are improved by adding wash water. Chapter five then discusses the changes observed in the flotation column cell performance. Chapter six covers the design of a pilot plant flotation column rig, the results obtained on plant and the discussion of these results. It is found that the pilot plant rig can be effectively used for on site test work. The flotation column cell performed better than the conventional cells. The pilot plant test work showed that: 1) Increasing the air rate increases the recovery. 2) Increasing the wash water rate improves the concentrate grades. Finally, in chapter seven, conclusions are drawn regarding the results and discussions. Some of these conclusions are: 1) The flotation column cell performes better than conventional flotation cells due to the column's deep water washed froth and counter-current contact mechanism. 2) Increasing the air rate decreases the grades of the concentrate due to increased entrainment, while the recovery moves through an optimum. 3) Increasing the froth depth increases the concentrate grades due to a longer cleaning action. For the same reason the recovery decreases. 4) The feed solids percentage has no effect on the grade or recovery. Should the maximum carrying capacity however be reached the recovery will drop. 5) Froth stability is essential for good concentrate grades and recoveries. 6) Increased wash water rates increase the concentrate grades due to a stronger washing action and more stable froths. 7) The chemical parameters which are varied show the same trends as was observed in conventional flotation. All data obtained during the test work is attached in the appendices.
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institution University of Cape Town (South Africa)
language eng
last_indexed 2026-06-10T12:32:06.010Z
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
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source_str UCTD — University of Cape Town Open Access Repository
spelling oai:open.uct.ac.za:11427/22051 The determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell, performance in the flotation of pyrite Schommarz, Klaus Helmuth O'Connor, Cyril T Chemical Engineering This masters dissertation an column flotation is to determine the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell performance in the flotation of pyrite. Hypotheses are also proposed to explain observed changes. Chapter one gives a brief description of flotation columns, some applications of flotation columns and a literature survey that covers the effects of various physical and chemical parameters. Chapter two states the objective of this research and the plan of action used to achieve this objective. Chapter three describes the first part of the plan of action, namely to design a laboratory flotation column and to draw up an experimental procedure. A flotation column rig with an adequately repeatable experimental procedure is the result. The repeatability and sensitivity of the experimental procedure is given in chapter four. This chapter also includes the results obtained when the physical and chemical parameters are varied. The effects on the flotation cell performance by varying parameters are summarised. The biggest changes observed in the flotation column cell performance are as follows: 1) An increased air rate yields an optimum sulphur recovery. 2) Concentrate sulphur grades decrease when the air rate is increased. 3) The concentrate grades increase when the froth depth is increased. 4) Increasing the feed solids percent to the flotation column has no effect on the concentrate grades and recoveries as long as the column is operated below its maximum carrying capacity. 5) The concentrate grades are improved by adding wash water. Chapter five then discusses the changes observed in the flotation column cell performance. Chapter six covers the design of a pilot plant flotation column rig, the results obtained on plant and the discussion of these results. It is found that the pilot plant rig can be effectively used for on site test work. The flotation column cell performed better than the conventional cells. The pilot plant test work showed that: 1) Increasing the air rate increases the recovery. 2) Increasing the wash water rate improves the concentrate grades. Finally, in chapter seven, conclusions are drawn regarding the results and discussions. Some of these conclusions are: 1) The flotation column cell performes better than conventional flotation cells due to the column's deep water washed froth and counter-current contact mechanism. 2) Increasing the air rate decreases the grades of the concentrate due to increased entrainment, while the recovery moves through an optimum. 3) Increasing the froth depth increases the concentrate grades due to a longer cleaning action. For the same reason the recovery decreases. 4) The feed solids percentage has no effect on the grade or recovery. Should the maximum carrying capacity however be reached the recovery will drop. 5) Froth stability is essential for good concentrate grades and recoveries. 6) Increased wash water rates increase the concentrate grades due to a stronger washing action and more stable froths. 7) The chemical parameters which are varied show the same trends as was observed in conventional flotation. All data obtained during the test work is attached in the appendices. 2016-10-03T04:07:42Z 2016-10-03T04:07:42Z 1991 Master Thesis Masters MSc (Eng) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22051 eng application/pdf Department of Chemical Engineering Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment University of Cape Town
spellingShingle Chemical Engineering
Schommarz, Klaus Helmuth
The determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell, performance in the flotation of pyrite
thesis_degree_str Master's
title The determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell, performance in the flotation of pyrite
title_full The determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell, performance in the flotation of pyrite
title_fullStr The determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell, performance in the flotation of pyrite
title_full_unstemmed The determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell, performance in the flotation of pyrite
title_short The determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell, performance in the flotation of pyrite
title_sort determination of the effects of physical and chemical parameters on the column flotation cell performance in the flotation of pyrite
topic Chemical Engineering
url http://hdl.handle.net/11427/22051
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