Pyrite tailings flotation based on collaboration of flotation machine and flotation column

Abstract

Flotation tests were conducted by using a sample of pyrite flotation tailings from a mine concentrate plant located in Yunfu，Guangdong province of China.The results show that the coarse and fine particles were effectively recovered based on the collaboration of flotation machine and flotation column to take advantages of the two flotation devices.The analysis of size and sulfur content distribution showed that sulfur mainly existed in +74 μm and -10 μm size fractions.Using flotation machine，under a closed-circuit of two stage roughing two stage scavenging and two stage cleaning after regrinding of primary concentrate，concentrates containing sulfur of 33.42% with recovery of 63.82% were obtained when the flotation feeding sulfur was 6.91%.Under the same flotation reagents dosage，concentrates containing sulfur of 32.68% with recovery of 70.84% were obtained by collaboration of flotation machine and flotation column.Compared with flotation machine，the collaboration of flotation machine and flotation column was more efficiency.The recovery of -54 μm significantly increased.Especially for the -20 μm size fraction，the recovery increased by almost 10 percentage points.

Keywords

• pyrite tailings
• cyclonic-static micro-bubble flotation column
• flotation machine
• size fraction