LIBERATION BASED ENERGY EFFICIENT SULFIDE FLOTATION CIRCUITS: Including Regrinding and Cleaner Flotation Technology Improvements since 1970

Sulfide flotation circuits are usually designed to liberate a high proportion of each valuable mineral during the primary grinding stage for the ore, with a further minor increase in liberation from regrinding within the cleaning system. This book explores the application of mineral liberation data for the valuable mineral(s) so that a majority of each is being liberated during regrinding inside the cleaning system, allowing recovery of each valuable mineral to the final concentrate(s). The significant developments in regrinding and cleaning technologies for sulfide ores from 1970 to 2020, documented in this book, provided an increased range of options and greater flexibility in the design of each regrind section and its associated cleaner system. Also included are discussions on the importance of the chemical conditions inside a regrinding mill and the relationships between these chemical conditions and the separation performance of the associated cleaner system. The book provides some future directions for primary grinding, roughing, regrinding and cleaning in sulfide flotation circuits to decrease the energy required for grinding in the total system. The decreased energy consumption can be achieved by performing the final stages of liberation of the valuable sulfide mineral(s) mainly in regrinding where the tonnages of solid being processed are lower than in primary grinding. Ample examples from industry are included to assist the reader, along with over 160 references.