Influence of operating parameters on the Apatite flotation kinetics

This study aimed to investigate the effect of controllable operating parameters, including pH, solid content, collector, modifier, and depressant dose, and conditioning time, on apatite flotation kinetics. Four first order flotation, kinetic models are tested on batch flotation time-recovery profiles. Model with fast and slow - floating components and classical model gave the best and the worst fit for experimental data respectively. Similarly, rectangular distribution of floatabilities and gamma distribution of floatabilities fitted the experimental data well. In this study, the model with rectangular distribution of floatabilities associated with fractional factorial experimental design was employed to evaluate the effect of operating parameters on kinetic parameters ( , K). The result indicated that linear effects of depressant dose, conditioning time, and the interaction effects of solid concentration and pH were statistically important on ultimate recovery but the significant parameters for flotation rate constant were linear effects of solids content, depressant dosage and the interaction effect between pH and conditioning time.