FLOTATION KINETICS

A flotation model is similar to chemical kinetics

dN/dt =-k1 N1a- k2 N2b

N - species (1 and 2) concentration

t- time
k - rate constant(s)
a, b process order
-negative sign indicates that the concentration is diminishing due to the loss
of particles being floated.
-exponents a and b signify the order of the process

Since flotation seems to depend only on particles concentration

dN/dt =-k1 N1a



Flotation kinetics models

Model Relation

Classic first order

= [1 exp (k1t)]

Modified first order

= {1 1/(k2t)[1 exp (k2t)]}

For reactor with ideal mixing

= [1 1/(1 + t/k3)]*
= k4t/(1 + k4t)*
Modified for gassolid adsorption

Kinetics of second order

= ()2 k5t/(1 + k5t)

Modified second order

= {1 [ln (1 + k6t)]/(k6t)}
= [1 { exp (k7t) + (1 ) exp(k8t)}
Two rate constants

Distributed rate constants

= [1 exp(kt) f (k, 0) dk]

* Equivalent models because k3 = 1/k4.

flotation recovery after time t,
maximum recovery,
fraction of particles having lower flotation rate constant, k7,
k flotation rate constant.
 Selected kinetic equations ( recovery of a component in separation product, max maximum recovery of the
same component in separation product, k rate constant of separation, t separation time
Model Formula
more Zeroth-order model k t (1)

First-order model
max 1 e kt (2)

First-order with rectangular distribution of

max 1
1

1 e k t (3)
floatabilities k t

1
Fully mixed reactor model max 1 (4)
1 t

k
k t
Improved gas/solid adsorption model max (5)
1 k t


3 -order model 1
max 1 2 (6)
1 1 k t max
2

2
k t
2

Second-order model max (7)
1 max k t

Second-order model with rectangular of max 1
1
ln 1 k t (8)
floatabilites k t

A. Bakalarz, J. Drzymala, 2013, Interrelation of the Fuerstenau upgrading curve parameters with kinetics of separation, Physicochemical
Problem of Mineral Processing, 49(2), 443-451
 Flotation kinetics of the whole mass and components

100 40
recovery of a component in

yield of concentrate, , %
80
30
concentrate, , %

component 1
60
20 sum of kinetics of
40 component 1 and
remaining components
10
20
remaining components
0 0
0 10 20 30
0 10 20 30
separation time, min
separation time, min
product (yield vs time)
components (recovery vs time)
Flotation results plotted as a relationship between recovery of each component in
concentrate and separation time (a), yield of components forming concentrate vs.
separation time (b)
A. Bakalarz, J. Drzymala, 2013, Interrelation of the Fuerstenau upgrading curve parameters with kinetics of separation, Physicochemical
Problem of Mineral Processing, 49(2), 443-451
 relation between flotation kinetics and upgrading curves
100

recovery of component 1 in
80

concentrate, 1,c, %
60
component 1 ideal upgrading
40 100

ideal upgrading
recovery of component 1 in
20 80 Fuerstenau curve

concentrate, 1,c, %
0 60
0 10 20 30
separation time, min 40
100
20
recovery of component 2 in

80
concentrate, 2,c, %

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
60 recovery of component 2 in concentrate,
2,c, %
40
component 2
20

0
0 10 20 30
separation time, min

a b
The kinetics of separation of feed components (a) provide separation results in the form of
the Fuerstenau upgrading curve (b).
A. Bakalarz, J. Drzymala, 2013, Interrelation of the Fuerstenau upgrading curve parameters with kinetics of separation, Physicochemical
Problem of Mineral Processing, 49(2), 443-451
ugrading curves (here Fuerstenaus) equations based on kinetics of flotation

1, c
3
0 1 2
2, c
2

k' 2 ,c
1,c k 2,c 2 ,c 1,c
1,c k' ln 1
1,c 100 1 100 (100 2 ,c )
0 100 (1 5 k 2 ,c ) 2

4

100 2 ,c
100
2
k ln
2 ,c k
1,c k ln 100 2 ,c 1,c 100 1
1
1,c
100
100 1,c 100 1 100 2 ,c 100 2 ,c
2
1 100


1 5 k ln 100 k ln 1

100 100

1

1,c 100 1 1
3 1,c 100 1
1 1,c 100 1
1 100 2 ,c
2
2 k' 2 ,c
2
1,c 100 1 1 5 k' ln k (10 100 2 ,c ) 1
2 2
(1 5 k' 2 ,c ) 1 20 (100 2 ,c )
100 100 2 ,c

9

100 2 ,c
k' ln
2
100

k 2 ,c
100 100 k 2 ,c
1,c 1,c 1 1,c
100 (100 2 ,c ) 100 2 ,c 1,c 100 1 2 ,c ( k 1) 100
2 100 k' ln 1 k 2 ,c
2
1
100 20 (100 2 ,c )

13

c,1 recovery of component 1 in concentrate c,2 recovery of component 2 in concentrate

 Theoretical shape of the separation data in the Fuerstenau plot
100

recovery of component 1 in concentrate, 1,c, %

100 100 k=1
recovery of component 1 in concentrate, 1,c, %

recovery of component 1 in concentrate, 1,c, %

80

80 80 k=0.5
k=1.5 k=2
k=1 60
60 k=3 k=1
60
k=5
k=0.4
40
40
k=0.5 40
k=0.02
20
20
20 k=0.005

0
0 0 20 40 60 80 100
0 20 40 60 80 100 0
recovery of component 2 in concentrate, 2,c, %
recovery of component 2 in concentrate, 2,c, % 0 20 40 60 80 100
recovery of component 2 in concentrate, 2,c, %

4* 7 9
100
recovery of component 1 in concentrate, 1,c, %

80 Remeber: for characterizing separation results we need

60
k=3
k=1
either two parameter or a law governing separation and
then you can use one parameter which can be called
13
40 k=0.5
k=0.2 selectivity as in these plots selectivity k
20

0
0 20 40 60 80 100
recovery of component 2 in concentrate, 2,c, %

*for a suitable equation see previous slide

(more plots in A. Bakalarz, J. Drzymala, 2013, Interrelation of the Fuerstenau upgrading curve parameters with kinetics of separation,
Physicochemical Problem of Mineral Processing, 49(2), 443-451
 An example of separation results approximation using the Fuerstenau plot

ideal upgrading
100
100
F = (89/89)

(component 1 in product 1)%

80
80

a=100
plant 3, trial 1
60 a=102.28 60
r

= a(100-r)/(a-r) no upgrading
40
40

20
20

0 0
0 20 40 60 80 100 0 20 40 60 80 100

component 2 in product 2,%

Polish copper ore lab tests with xanthate

Homework

Calculate the rate constant and order of a set of yield flotation data
Microlaboratory cells
Laboratory cells
Laboratory machines
Industrial machines
Mechanical
Pneumo-mechanical
Pneumatic
Pressurized (DAF)
Other (sparged hydrocyclone, ASH)
 Laboratory cells

water level

magnetic stirrer

porous glass

gas deflector

froth
product
water level
x

stirrer

porous glass
flotaton product
gas

Other laboratory flotation devices

a) cylindrical cell equipped with magnetic stirrer (Fuerstenau, 1964)
b) laboratory flotation device of Partridge and Smith, 1971
 drive

air

Laboratory Mechanobr flotation machine

Laboratory Denver flotation machine
Industrial flotation

EIMCO Product Leaflets, 2000

Flotation machines are used individually and as a group (bank)
Flotation machines are rectangular and circular

Svedala Product Handbook, 1996

Constructions and impellers of flotation machines are different
Denver
Mechanobr
Fagergreen (WEMCO-EIMCO)
DENVER
Wemco-Fagergreen (V=0.085 85m3)

Kelly E.G., Spottiswood D.J., Introduction to mineral processing. J.Wiley& Sons, N.Jork 1985
Wemco-Fagergreen (WEMCO-EIMCO)
mechanical flotation machines

EIMCO Product Leaflets, 2000

Denver
Agitair
Metso RCS (Metso Minerals)
Outotec (Outokumpu)
X-Cell (FLSmidth Minerals)
Humbolt-Wedag
IMN Gliwice
Fragment of mechano-pneumatic flotation machine
(continueous, multi-impeller tankless Denver D-R

Wills B.A., Mineral processing

technology. Pergamon Press 1983
Pneumo-mechanic multi-tank (15m3 each)
(Aker FM Humbold Wedag)

tailing
Humbold-Wedag Product Leaflets, 1998
Pneumo-mechanical flotation machines IMN

Maszyna przepywowa
wielowirnikowa Maszyna
jednowirnikowa
New machines: large volume and output, saving energy

Historyczny rozwj pojemnoci maszyn flotacyjnych

Flotation technologies. Outotec Leaflets 2007

 (Outokumpu OK-100, V= 100m3

TankCell 300
300m3

Outokumpu Oy Leaflets 2000

Flotation technologies, Outotec Oyj. Leaflets 2007
Outotec TankCell 500 (500m3)

2012 Outotec Oyj. www.outotec.com

RCS (Reactor Cell System) from 5 to 200 m3 (Metso
Minerals/Svedala)

1-radial flow of
slurry to tank
wall
2-primary slurry
stream to
benith impeller
3-secondary
recirculation
towards upper
part of tank

Basics in mineral processing. Metso

Minerals 2003
RCS (Reactor Cell System) from 5 to 200 m3 (Metso Minerals)

Basics in mineral processing. Metso Minerals 2003

RCS (Reactor Cell System) from 260 m3 (Metso Minerals)
 pneumo-machanic
XCELL (FLSmidth Minerals)

XCELL Flotation Machines. FLSmidth Mineralss brochure 2008.

FLOTATION COLUMNS
Metso
Outotec (Outokumpu)
Jameson Cell
Imhoflot
Pneuflot (Humbolt-Wedag)
Injection Jameson Cell
Pneumatic PNEUFLOT

Pneumatic flotation with PNEUFLOT cells HUMBOLDT WEDAG leaflet 2009

Multi-injection Imhoflot 3 (centrifugal flotation)

feed

compressed
air

air plus
suspension

feed reagents
concentrate

tailing

feed pump tailing pump

Pneumatic cell Imhoflot. Maelgwyn Mineral Service leaflet 4/06 Chile 2006
Injection column

Siemens
SIMINE Hybrid Flot

Metals and Mining, Siemens VAI, No. 1, 2011

Dissolved air flotation (DAF)
Dissolved air flotation (DAF)
Flotation, ZWR Polkowice