FLOTATION TECHNOLOGY
After completion of commissioning and
optimisation of the SkimAir operating
parameters, several sampling campaigns were
carried out. These campaigns were designed to
compare the metallurgical performances of the
parallel process lines. From the sampling
campaigns, the following conclusions were
drawn:
n Significant reduction in gold recirculation
load: Samples were collected from the
grinding and flotation circuits to assess the
performances of the process lines. The
samples collected from the primary cyclone
underflow showed that the line with SkimAir
had over 60% less gold in the cyclone
underflow compared to the parallel line
without SkimAir. This shows that SkimAir
very effectively recovers gold which the
gravity circuit was unable to recover.
n Reduction in flotation feed head
grade: SkimAir was able to recover a
significant proportion of the gold which the
gravity separation was unable to recover. This
was proven by 40% lower gold head grade to
the conventional flotation circuit compared to
the flotation head grade of the parallel line
without SkimAir.
n Lower gold content in the final tails: The
average gold grades of the lines with and
without SkimAir were 0.17 and 0.19 g/t,
respectively. This shows a fall of 11% in the
tails gold content from the line where SkimAir
was implemented.
n Higher overall gold recovery: With less
overgrinding and less gold recirculation, the plants will replace existing conventional flotation
at the Belaruskali “Plant 3” whilst the second
plant will be for the new Petrikov greenfield
project. The contracts cover the supply of 16
line with SkimAir had close to 2% higher
overall recovery compared to the line without
SkimAir.
The 2% recovery improvement is significant,
resulting in a payback time of just four months for Imhoflot V-Cells. Each cell capable of processing
up to 760 m 3 /h / 150 t/h. Imhoflot pneumatic
flotation offers higher selectivity than
conventional flotation and improved project
economics. The equipment was delivered in
stages, commencing in November 2018 with the
the investment. Polyus decided to invest in five
more SkimAir units for all the remaining processing
lines at the Olimpiada concentrator plants.
Over the course of the first quarter of 2019,
Polyus continued the roll out of the flash
flotation project at Olimpiada. Currently, the
company is conducting ramp up of two
flash flotation units at ZIF-3 concentrator and
proceeding with construction and installation
works at ZIF-1 and ZIF-2 concentrators.
Additionally, Polyus has approved the roll out of
Outotec flash flotation technology at the Natalka
mill and anticipates the commissioning of flash
flotation units in 2020.
Maelgwyn potash flotation in
Belarus
Recently, Maelgwyn Mineral Services (MMS)
won contracts to supply two more Imhoflot
pneumatic flotation plants to potash projects for
JSC Belaruskali in Belarus. Working with its
engineering partner, NPO Passat, one of the
final delivery made in mid-2019.
The contracts continue the long-term technical
relationship between JSC Belaruskali and MMS
going back to 2005. Since that time MMS has
been instrumental in assisting the company in
upgrading all its process plants from
conventional to Imhoflot pneumatic flotation.
In addition to its applications for industrial
minerals there has been considerable recent
interest in the use of Imhoflot pneumatic
flotation in processing the so-called “battery
metals” and including graphite. The higher
selectivity offered by the hi-energy flotation
system together with its small footprint,
flexibility of operation and lower capex/opex
offers considerable advantages over conventional
flotation in this rapidly changing and competitive
market segment. MMS, through its subsidiary
MMSA, can offer project evaluation to DFS level
at its world class laboratory and pilot plant
facilities in Johannesburg, South Africa.
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