Optimization of Air-injection Spargers for Column Flotation Applications

Column flotation cells have become the most popular machine designed for industrial applications that require the separation and concentration of wanted or unwanted minerals from the rest material associated in a pulp. To achieve this process separation an air sparging device, which is required to produce bubbles in the flotation cell is required. In column flotation operations, Sparger sparging devices are employed in column flotation operations to generate small bubbles into the cell with the aim to carry the the desired mineral to the surface for later be recovered and proceeded. However, field studies suggest that air injector sparging systems are not always optimized. Two of the reasonsReasons that contributinge to the lack of optimization areis unfavorable state are: (i) ineffective internal design of the sparging system, and (ii) poor operation techniques employed inby the industrial processing industrial plants.

The present project intends to better understand sparging performance into the column cell and how to optimize sparging systems more effectively. To achieve this end, With this in mind, data of for gas-water injection rate, froth addition, and inlet-pressure have been collected and analyzed. The This data not only will facilitate an insight of to better operational practices that plant operators can employ to improve column performance, but it also will make it possible to correct flaws in the design of the sparging systems currently used in column flotation operations.