Rougher flotation of copper minerals in columns

In this work, rougher flotation of low grade copper minerals (0.6–0.7% Cu) was tested in column cells at laboratory scale. A negative bias regime was used in order to create a levitating effect on particle–bubble aggregates to promote gross particle flotation. 0% recovery was obtained on the flotation of coarse mineral (100%—84 μm) with concentrate grades around 2.7%. The process was not optimized, hence, it may be possible to reach even better results.