Variation of flotation rate coefficients in zinc cleaning circuits

The detailed flotation behaviour observed in industrial zinc cleaning circuits at Broken Hill differs markedly from that commonly reported for rougher and scavenger flotation. Flotation is strongly influenced by solids to liquid ratio (pulp density) and the behaviour can be described by an exponential relationship between the flotation rate coefficient and the pulp density in each cell. The dependence on pulp density is largely independent of mineral type but does depend upon particle size. The largest variation is observed for coarse particles.The observations are of considerable significance to control of circuit performance. The results of simulations incorporating the dependence of rate coefficient upon pulp density differ substantially from those obtained from conventional models which assume constant rate coefficients.