Optimization of flotation columns to provide added value of local sphalerite ore
Soesaptri Oediyani (a*), Didied Haryono (a), Rahman Faiz Suwandana (a)
a) Metallurgical Engineering Department, Sultan Ageng Tirtayasa University, Banten 42436 - Indonesia
*s_oediyani[at]untirta.ac.id
Abstract
Sphalerite is the most important mineral in the formation of zinc metal. According to regulation of Ministry ESDM No.5/2017 stated that the minimum grade of zinc concentrates to be exported is 51%. Therefore, it is necessary to do a beneficiation process for sphalerite ore to fulfill the requirements. Sphalerite is hydrophobic mineral, therefore it is the best way to processed sphalerite by flotation. Flotation is the process of concentrating valuable minerals from impurities based on the nature of the mineral surface. Column flotation is a flotation technology without an agitator as a producer of air bubbles like conventional flotation machines. Recovery is the most important factor in flotation and it shows the rate of acquisition of the flotation process. The purpose of this research was to determine the effect of air flow rates (2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, and 4 L / min.), percent solid (7.5%, 10%, 12.5%, and 15%), dose of reagent frother (10, 20 , 30 and 40 ppm), and particle size of ore (-80 + 100
Keywords: local sphalerite ore, column flotation, recovery, frother, collector
Topic: Metallurgy Engineering