Abstract

RAMLALL, N.V.  and  LOVEDAY, B.K.. A comparison of models for the recovery of minerals in a UG2 platinum ore by batch flotation. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2015, vol.115, n.3, pp.221-228. ISSN 2411-9717.

A study was carried out to evaluate various batch flotation models for the recovery of minerals in a UG2 platinum ore. The major minerals in a UG2 ore can be grouped as platinum group minerals, chromite, and siliceous gangue. This study also examined the entrainment of minerals during flotation. The models were ranked using statistical methods and an analysis of model-fit residuals. Entrainment parameters obtained from model fitting were evaluated for logic using a simple mineral-to-water ratio versus time plot. The foremost conclusion from the study was the importance of entrainment modelling. The measurement of water recovery increased the size of the data-set, and the inclusion of a simple entrainment model was statistically significant. The overall fit to the data was improved, and the entrainment model provided logical information on the recovery of gangue minerals that were not considered to be floatable.

Keywords : Batch flotation modelling; entrainment modelling; PGM flotation.

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