Developments in flotation circuit diagnostic practice

An important role of a site metallurgist is to diagnose reasons for problems in a flotation circuit and devise strategies to overcome these problems. Traditionally this has involved performing and analysing information from a flotation circuit survey. 

It is difficult to determine from this information alone definitive flotation mineral recovery mechanisms and strategies for circuit improvement. There are, however, new analytical and modelling techniques that can be used to complement traditional survey data. These techniques are able to determine the effect of mineralogy, surface chemistry and circuit design on flotation circuit recoveries and grades. They can suggest strategies for improvement which would not have been identified via a conventional circuit audit. 

In her keynote lecture at Flotation '21 Dr. Kym Runge will review these new approaches and use an industrial example to demonstrate the type of conclusions that can be derived. The developments that are required to improve analysis turnaround times and enable assessment of alternative flotation circuit options will be outlined.  

Associate Professor Kym Runge is the leader of the Separation Research Program at the SMI-JKMRC, Australia.  This program aims to develop novel separation processes that will make a step change in mining and involves research into high voltage comminution, coarse particle flotation, improved classification and novel flotation chemistries.  Prior to this appointment, Kym worked 25 years as a flotation specialist.  Her research has involved the development of flotation simulation and diagnostic procedures at the SMI-JKMRC, including the development of JKSimFloat, a flotation simulation program.  She also worked 10 years for Metso, the biggest mining equipment supplier, as a flotation consultant and researcher.

Updates on the conference are at #Flotation21 and the deadline for abstracts is the end of this month.