ALS flotation process development testwork, at both laboratory and pilot plant scale, minimises technical risks through well-planned, well-managed and well-executed metallurgical testwork programs.
Froth flotation is the separation process of choice for most sulphide deposits as well as an increasing number of other minerals.
ALS is ISO9001 certified and has established a global reputation as leaders in flotation process development and optimisation. Flotation specialists, mineralogists and analytical chemists work to develop successful recovery processing strategies for optimisation of prefeasibility and feasibility studies. ALS provides these services for a range of ores, including:
- Base metals
- Precious metals including refractory gold ores
- Phosphates and oxide ores
- Iron ore
- Rare earth oxides
- Graphite
Flotation testwork is carried out from bench scale rougher, cleaner and locked cycle phases right up to continuous pilot plant circuits.
ALS flotation metallurgists have experience in a comprehensive range of minerals including complex sulphides, precious metals and refractory gold ores, phosphates, and oxide ores.
ALS provides customised bench scale flotation testwork programs in preparation for pilot scale work or as an independent program. Tests may be performed in batch or as a locked-cycle program to predict concentrate recoveries in process plant situations.
Bench floatation test programs are commonly designed to consider the following parameters:
- Bench flotation test programs are commonly designed to consider the following parameters:
- Flotation Kinetics
- Grind Size
- Reagent Selection And Optimisation
- Selective Flotation (complex sulphides)
- Pulp Potential
- Flowsheet Design
ALS equipment includes a range of Agitair, Denver and Wemco cells with full instrumentation.
Continuous pilot scale flotation programs can be run in conjunction with comminution, regrind circuits and thickening/filtration to provide crucial information for plant scale operation.
ALS pilot flotation cells range in size from 1.5 to 300L and can be arranged to simulate various circuit configurations, from 15kg/hr to 2tph.
A wide range of screening and sample grinding capabilities are available including AG/SAG, ball and rod milling and Ultra-Fine Grinding (UFG). Gravity, leaching and magnetic separation are also available, and dewatering/process water recycle can be investigated.
Specialised flotation cells, from conventional to column flotation technologies, are available including flash flotation cells. Prioritised assay turnaround provides near real-time results allowing operating parameters to be optimised and alternative reagent schemes trialled during continuous pilot plant campaigns.
Large scale floatation can also be performed in bulk batch mode to provide bulk quantities of concentrate or tailings for further downstream processing testwork.