A statistical model for the concentrate water in flotation columns

A statistical model to calculate the superficial velocity of water accompanying the solids recovered to the concentrate is presented and discussed. The model-intended for being incorporated to one of the available models for solids recovery to perform the balance of water around the column-expresses the superficial velocity of concentrate water as a function of solids recovery, bias velocity, froth depth and column diameter. The model was developed taking into consideration a data base consisting of 139 experimental tests conducted in columns ranging from 0.06 m to 1.2 m diameter (and 9 to 13 m height), processing different ores and operating under a variety of experimental conditions. orporating the model developed for water to that for the recovery of solids due to Finch and Dobby (1990), a simulator was built to examine the capability of the global column model (e.g., for solids and water) to describe some characteristic behaviour of column operations such as the effect of column diameter and froth depth on water and solids recovery to the concentrate. Potential applications of the global model are in column and column circuit modelling and simulation.