The impact of data correlation on the material balance problem

The precision of material balance calculations is commonly improved by using more than one set of data. However, where sets of data are highly correlated it can be shown that there is little benefit to including correlated data in a material balance calculation. The relationship between degree of correlation and recovery calculation error is analyzed using a Monte Carlo simulation and an analytical solution for a simple separator. The problem is illustrated using data from the flotation circuit of a South American iron ore operation.