Abstract
Factorial design of column-flotation experiments was used to understand the main and interactional effects of the column parameters. In the experiments, the air flow rate, the wash-water flow rate and the froth depth were varied at two levels. Analysis of the results showed that an increase in air flow rate had a deleterious effect on the grade of the concentrate, whereas, an increase in froth height increased the grade. The interactions between air flow and wash water and between air flow and froth height were significant with respect to grade of the concentrate. These results demonstrated that, from an ore containing 12.76% P2O5, it is possible in a single-stage flotation column to obtain a concentrate containing 31% P2O5 (10.6% SiO2) with a recovery of 94%, thus reducing the number of cleaning stages that would be required if conventional flotation cells were used.
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SME nonmeeting paper 95–606. Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted, in duplicate, prior to Feb. 28, 1997.
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Patil, D.P., Barnwal, J.P. & Rao, T.C. Column flotation of siliceous rock phosphate. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 13, 147–150 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402736
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402736