Application of hydrophobic and magnetic plastic particles for enhanced flotation recovery. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Honaker, Rick Q.; Saracoglu, Mehmet; Huang, Qingqing
• Is Part Of: Minerals engineering. Volume 98(2016)
• Page Start: 223
• Page End: 231
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: Hydrophobic particles -- Magnetic particles -- Froth flotation -- Froth stability -- Recovery -- Kinetics; Mines and mineral resources -- Periodicals; Ressources minérales -- Périodiques; Mines and mineral resources; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 622
• DOI: 10.1016/j.mineng.2016.08.027
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0892-6875

Abstract

Highlights: Recoverable plastic particles were evaluated to improve flotation recovery. Two coal sources were tested using conventional and column flotation cells. A flotation recovery increase of 16 absolute percentage points was realized. Plastic particle addition preferentially improved in coarse particle recovery. Carrying capacity characteristics were enhanced. Abstract: The effect of hydrophobic and magnetic plastic particles having a contact angle of around 83° on flotation performance was evaluated using coal particles of varying degrees of floatability. The magnetic plastic material were recovered by a low intensity magnetic separator and recycled back to the flotation feed for re-use. Flotation rate tests conducted on coal using a conventional cell proved that combustible recovery and flotation rate were significantly enhanced with the addition of the plastic particles, especially for difficult-to-float coals, which was corroborated by flotation column tests. Carrying capacity and particle size-by-size flotation tests further showed that the magnetic plastic particles preferentially increased the recovery of coarse particles by as much as 35 absolute percentage points due to froth stabilization which reduced the selective detachment of coarse and/or weakly hydrophobic particles. The enhanced flotation recovery was attributed to the influence on liquid drainage rate in the froth zone, froth stability, bubble coalescence and flotation rates.