Lab Report 3 Date:22/12/2020

Name: Danial Afzal Malik

Reg No: 17PWMIN0816

Department: Mining
Subject: Mineral Processing II (lab)

Lab Report No: 03

Submitted to: Engr. Sajjad Hussain

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Lab Report 3 Date:22/12/2020

Title:
Concentration of copper ore by Froth flotation technique
Objective:
 To know about Flotation Machine
 Also to know about their working principle

Apparatus:
Flotation machine, Digital Balance and Oven

Principle:
The basic principle of floatation is that the separation is done due the surface
property of the minerals (Physic-chemical property).

Theory:
Froth flotation is a process for selectively separating hydrophobic materials from
hydrophilic. This is used in several processing industries. Historically this was first used in
the mining industry, where it was one of the great enabling technologies of the 20th century.
It has been described as "the single most important operation used for the recovery and
upgrading of sulphide ores". The development of froth flotation improved the recovery of
valuable minerals, such as copper- and lead-bearing minerals. Along with mechanized
mining, it allowed the economic recovery of valuable metals from much lower grade ore than
before.
The specific size of mineral which is valid for the flotation technique is below than 100µm.

FACTORS AFFECTING FLOTATION.

 Size and shape of mineral particles –
Optimum particle size depends on its surface property, specific gravity.

 Pulp Density-
Flotation efficiency increases with pulp density.
Usual pulp density – 15- 40% solids.

 Pulp Temperature.
Temperature influences the speed of reactions.
Rise in temperature improves flotation but reduces selectivity.

 Composition of process water.

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Ions present in the water affect the flotation process.

They may react with flotation reagents (collectors, modifiers etc).

 Reagent feed –reagent type, sequence of addition, time of contact between pulp
and reagent.
The sequence of addition- regulator to alter pH of medium, depressants
to depress certain constituent, collector and frother.

 Particle agglomeration in the pulp.

Chemicals of Flotation:
 Collectors:
Collectors either chemically bond (chemisorption) on a hydrophobic mineral
surface, or adsorb onto the surface in the case of, for example, coal flotation
through physisorption. Collectors increase the natural hydrophobicity of the
surface, increasing the separability of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles.
For example Xanthates.
 Frothers:
An agent (as pine oil or cresol) that is active in froth flotation through its ability to
change the surface tension of a liquid and consequently decrease the wettability of
the particles to be recovered. For example Pine Oil

 Modifiers
The chemicals which is used to maintain the PH of the slurry. For example
NaOH.
Procedure:
 First of all we prepare the slurry which is 25% solid by weight (500gm Copper Ore).
 Then we find the PH of the slurry by the help of PH meter. Basically for Copper ore the
PH of the slurry (medium) should be 9-10.
 And then by the help of NaOH we maintain the PH of the slurry(medium)
 After that we ON the flotation machine.
 Also set the speed of flotation machine upto 2000rpm (suitable for copper ore).
 After 3 minutes we swell the 0.1gm collector (Sodium Amyl Xanthate) to the slurry
(medium).
 Then after 3 minutes we swell the 6 to 10 drops of frother (Pine Oil).
 And after that we collect the concentrate by the help of taste spoon.
 Then dry the concentrate and gangue and find their weight.

Observation and Calculation:

S.No Temperature Concentrate(gm) Gangue(gm)

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Lab Report 3 Date:22/12/2020

1 Wet condition
2 Dry Condition

Precaution:
 The PH of slurry (medium) should be 9-10.
 The particle size should be below than 100µm.
 Don’t touch anything without your instructor permission.

References:

 Lecture by Engr. Sajjad Hussain

 Wikipedia

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