Conducting a Flotation Test: Detailed Procedure

Content of flotation test

Flotation is a main method for the separation of fine disseminated ores, especially non-ferrous metals, rare metals, non-metallic minerals and soluble salts. Flotation test is an essential content in most ore beneficiability studies.

1. Contents of flotation test in laboratory

The main contents of flotation test include:

(1) Determine the selection scheme;

(2) Through the test, analysis of factors affecting the process, find out the primary and secondary positions of each factor in the process and the degree of mutual influence, determine the best process conditions;

(3) Put forward the final selection index and necessary other technical indicators.

Because the selective separation of various constituent minerals in flotation process is based on the difference of mineral floatability, it is the key of flotation test to adjust the difference of mineral floatability with various reagents.

2. Procedures of laboratory flotation test

Laboratory flotation separability tests are usually carried out according to the following procedure.

(1) Formulate a principled plan

(2) Prepare test conditions

(3) Pre-test

(4) Condition test

(5) Closed-circuit test