ABSTRACT

This paper aims to demonstrate a safe, non-chemical approach for improving the efficiency of froth flotation. Laboratory scale flotation tests for quartz particles of different sizes (< 20 µm, 20–38 µm, 38–75 µm, 75–106 µm, 106–150 µm, 150–212 µm) with an ether amine collector at different dosages were conducted in batch mode by using a bottom-driven mechanical flotation cell. An underwater loudspeaker was placed in the flotation pulp phase. The solids concentrations tested were 5% and 20% by weight. The results showed that acoustic sound (at 375 Hz and 77 decibels) increased the flotation recovery by at least 6% over a broad particle size range (i.e. 20–212 micron). The results also suggested applying acoustic sound in a flotation system can improve flotation recovery to a larger extent at a lower reagent dosage. An advantage of having the loudspeaker immersed in the pulp phase rather than in air above the flotation cell was the substantially reduced noise level. The present study provides a potential approach for improving flotation performance and reducing the chemical reagent consumption in flotation cells.

摘要

本文旨在展示一种安全、非化学的方法来提高泡沫浮选的效率。使用不同剂量的醚胺捕收剂对不同尺寸的石英颗粒（< 20 µm、20–38 µm、38–75 µm、75–106 µm、106–150 µm、150–212 µm）进行实验室规模浮选试验通过使用底部驱动的机械浮选槽以间歇模式进行。水下扬声器放置在浮选矿浆阶段。测试的固体浓度为按重量计5%和20%。结果表明，声学声音（375 Hz 和 77 分贝）在较宽的粒度范围（即 20-212 微米）内将浮选回收率提高了至少 6%。结果还表明，在浮选系统中应用声学声音可以以较低的药剂剂量在更大程度上提高浮选回收率。将扬声器浸入矿浆相中而不是浸入浮选池上方的空气中的优点是噪音水平显着降低。本研究为提高浮选性能和减少浮选槽化学试剂消耗提供了一种潜在的方法。