Metelev A.A., Zakirnichny V.N., Garifulin I.F., Purgin A.P., Morozov V.V. Study and Optimization of Secondary Concentration Processes of the Flotated Fraction in Column Flotation Machines

DOI: 10.18503/1995-2732-2026-24-3-14-24

Abstract

Based on the results of studying the separation of mineral fractions in the transport and secondary concentration zone of the froth product, approaches to selecting operating parameters for high-rate pneumatic flotation of copper ores have been developed. The aim of the research is to determine the aerohydrodynamic parameters that ensure the selectivity of mineral flotation. The novelty of the study lies in the use of a visometric technique based on simulating the minerals being separated with luminophores, which makes it possible to determine the floatability of mineral fractions under dynamic conditions. Using the proposed technique, the patterns of capture and entrainment of hydrophilic mineral grains into the froth product have been established as a function of air flow rate and frother concentration. The study of the secondary concentration of copper minerals floated into the froth product has established relationships between the aerohydrodynamic and technological parameters of pneumatic flotation and the air flow rate and frother concentration in the aqueous phase. The possibility of maintaining high-rate flotation conditions without excessive entrainment of non-metallic mineral grains of various sizes into the froth product in the transport and secondary concentration zone has been demonstrated. The calculations have shown that the required efficiency of froth flotation of copper minerals is achieved at a specific air flow rate of no more than 0.6 m³/m² min and a frother concentration of no more than 50 mg/L. To achieve the required result such as maintaining the required concentrate quality under high-rate flotation conditions it has been proposed to modify the geometric proportions of the flotation machine by increasing the ratio of the diameters of the transport-secondary flocculation zone to the aeration-flotation zone by a factor of 1.5. The practical result of modernizing the KFM-1400 flotation machine by increasing the diameter of the upper part of the housing is an increase in its capacity from 0.371 to 0.985 t/h m³ while maintaining the required quality of the copper concentrate.

Keywords

copper ore, high-rate flotation, froth, aeroflocs, secondary concentration, frother, luminophores, visometric analysis, hydrophilic minerals

For citation

Metelev A.A., Zakirnichny V.N., Garifulin I.F., Purgin A.P., Morozov V.V. Study and Optimization of Secondary Concentration Processes of the Flotated Fraction in Column Flotation Machines. Vestnik Magnitogorskogo Gosudarstvennogo Tekhnicheskogo Universiteta im. G.I. Nosova [Vestnik of Nosov Magnitogorsk State Technical University]. 2026, vol. 24, no. 3, pp. 14-24. https://doi.org/10.18503/1995-2732-2026-24-3-14-24

Alexey A. Metelev – Chief Engineer, Scientific Research and Design Institute for the Enrichment and Mechanical Processing of Minerals (JSC Uralmekhanobr), Yekaterinburg, Russia. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Scopus ID: 57195473641.

Vitaly N. Zakirnichny – Deputy Director General for Science, Scientific Research and Design Institute for the Enrichment and Mechanical Processing of Minerals (JSC Uralmekhanobr), Yekaterinburg, Russia. Scopus ID: 57216488615.

Igor F. Garifulin – Leading Researcher, Scientific Research and Design Institute for the Enrichment and Mechanical Processing of Minerals (JSC Uralmekhanobr), Yekaterinburg, Russia. Scopus ID: 55826770400

Alexander P. Purgin – Head of the Department, Scientific Research and Design Institute for the Enrichment and Mechanical Processing of Minerals (JSC Uralmekhanobr), Yekaterinburg, Russia. Scopus ID: 6603243105.

Valery V. Morozov – Professor of the Department of General Inorganic Chemistry, The National University of Science and Technology MISIS, Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia. Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. ORCID: 0000-0003-4105-944X.

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