A froth flotation process is used to concentrate copper ore. It is a two-stage p
ID: 3278852 • Letter: A
Question
A froth flotation process is used to concentrate copper ore. It is a two-stage process that involves one rougher stage and one cleaner stage. The cleaner tailings return to the rougher flotation. Both stages are nonreactive unit operations that operate at steady-state. The analytical profile of the entire flotation circuit is: - The rougher flotation feed grade is 0.50% Cu. - The rougher concentrate grade is 11.8% Cu. - The rougher tailings contain 0.09% Cu. - The cleaner (final) concentrate grade is 31.0% Cu. - The cleaner tailings contain 4.7% Cu.Part A - Overall Copper Recovery Calculate the overall copper recovery for the process.
Part B - Cleaner Copper Recovery Calculate the copper recovery in the cleaner flotation operation.
Part C - Cleaner Tailings Assuming that the flotation process treats 250 tons/hr of copper ore, calculate the circulating load (in tons/hr) of cleaner tailings that return to the rougher flotation under steady-state operation. A froth flotation process is used to concentrate copper ore. It is a two-stage process that involves one rougher stage and one cleaner stage. The cleaner tailings return to the rougher flotation. Both stages are nonreactive unit operations that operate at steady-state. The analytical profile of the entire flotation circuit is: - The rougher flotation feed grade is 0.50% Cu. - The rougher concentrate grade is 11.8% Cu. - The rougher tailings contain 0.09% Cu. - The cleaner (final) concentrate grade is 31.0% Cu. - The cleaner tailings contain 4.7% Cu.
Part A - Overall Copper Recovery Calculate the overall copper recovery for the process.
Part B - Cleaner Copper Recovery Calculate the copper recovery in the cleaner flotation operation.
Part C - Cleaner Tailings Assuming that the flotation process treats 250 tons/hr of copper ore, calculate the circulating load (in tons/hr) of cleaner tailings that return to the rougher flotation under steady-state operation. A froth flotation process is used to concentrate copper ore. It is a two-stage process that involves one rougher stage and one cleaner stage. The cleaner tailings return to the rougher flotation. Both stages are nonreactive unit operations that operate at steady-state. The analytical profile of the entire flotation circuit is: - The rougher flotation feed grade is 0.50% Cu. - The rougher concentrate grade is 11.8% Cu. - The rougher tailings contain 0.09% Cu. - The cleaner (final) concentrate grade is 31.0% Cu. - The cleaner tailings contain 4.7% Cu.
Part A - Overall Copper Recovery Calculate the overall copper recovery for the process.
Part B - Cleaner Copper Recovery Calculate the copper recovery in the cleaner flotation operation. Part B - Cleaner Copper Recovery Calculate the copper recovery in the cleaner flotation operation.
Part C - Cleaner Tailings Assuming that the flotation process treats 250 tons/hr of copper ore, calculate the circulating load (in tons/hr) of cleaner tailings that return to the rougher flotation under steady-state operation. Part C - Cleaner Tailings Assuming that the flotation process treats 250 tons/hr of copper ore, calculate the circulating load (in tons/hr) of cleaner tailings that return to the rougher flotation under steady-state operation.
Explanation / Answer
(a) Let the weight percentage of feed = x
Let the weight percentage of concentrate = y
Let the rougher flotation feed = a
Let rougher concentrate grade =b.
Let the rougher tailings contain = c
(Part A ) the overall copper recovery for the process = 100*(b/a)(a-c/b-c)
= 100*(11.8/0.50) * [(0.50-0.09)/(11.8-0.09)
= 100*23.6*0.035
= 82.63 % of Cu
(Part B ) The rougher concentrate grade for the cleaner copper recovery is "a" = 11.8% of Cu
Cleaner Copper Recovery= 100*(b/a)(a-c/b-c)
=100*(31/11.8) * [(11.8-4.7)/(31-4.7)
= 100*2.627*0.2699
= 70.91 % of Cu
(Part C) - Cleaner Tailings
The percentage recovered in final process = 100*(a-c)/(b-c)
= 100 *(11.8-4.7)/(31-4.7)
= 100*0.2699
= 26.99 by weight percentage
circulating load of cleaner = 250* 26.99%
= 6747.5/100
= 67.47