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The use of column flotation to reduce silica in iron ore pellets

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Abstract

The highly competitive nature of the international iron ore market has forced producers to improve the quality of their pellets. The demand for low-acid pellets suitable for direct reduction has resulted in an increase in the number of plants utilizing reverse froth flotation for silica reduction.

Column flotation is being favored for this service because of low capital and operating costs and improved metallurgical performance compared to conventional flotation cells.

This paper describes the benefits of column flotation and discusses some important aspects of circuit design.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cominco Engineering Services Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    H. E. Wyslouzil (senior metallurgical engineer), I. M. Flint (metallurgist) & D. J. Murdock (manager, process technologies)

Authors
  1. H. E. Wyslouzil
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  2. I. M. Flint
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  3. D. J. Murdock
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Additional information

SME Preprint 93-60, SME Annual Meeting, Feb. 15–18, 1993, Reno, NV. M&MP paper 93-634.

Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted, in duplicate, prior to May 31, 1994.

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Wyslouzil, H.E., Flint, I.M. & Murdock, D.J. The use of column flotation to reduce silica in iron ore pellets. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 11, 1–4 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403032

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03403032

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