Optimising Down the Bank Flotation Froth Performance in Metsos 3m3 RCSTM Test Cell

Kym Runge, Brigitte Seaman and David Seaman

Submitted for Publication:

Flotation 07 Cape Town, South Africa, 6 21 November 2007
Contact:
Kym Runge
Manager Flotation Process Technology
Metso Minerals Process Technology Asia Pacific
Metso Minerals
Unit 1 8-10 Chapman Place
Eagle Farm Queensland Australia 4009
Phone 07 3623 2965
Mobile 0418 950 043
Fax 07 3623 2998
kym.runge@metso.com

Optimising Down the Bank Flotation Froth Performance in Metsos 3m3 RCSTM Test Cell

Kym Runge
Manager Flotation Process Technology
Metso Minerals Process Technology Group Asia Pacific
Metso Minerals
Unit 1 8-10 Chapman Place
Eagle Farm Queensland Australia 4009
kym.runge@metso.com
Brigitte Seaman
Project Metallurgist
Technical Delivery Group
Nickel West
ARRC 26 Dick Perry Avenue
Kensington WA 6151
brigitte.seaman@bhpbilliton.com
David Seaman
Program Leader
Technical Delivery Group
Nickel West
ARRC 26 Dick Perry Avenue
Kensington WA 6151
david.seaman@bhpbilliton.com

Optimising Down the Bank Flotation Froth Performance in Metsos 3m3 RCSTM Test Cell

K.C. Runge*, B. Seaman#, D. Seaman#

* Metso Minerals Process Technology Asia Pacific, Brisbane, Australia

# BHP Billiton, Nickel West, Technical Delivery Group, Perth Australia

ABSTRACT

Froth recovery is usually low in coarse scavenging applications as the froth is very unstable. Staged
frother addition or the use of stronger frothers can potentially increase froth recovery and overall circuit
recovery. Establishing the optimum frother regime in the laboratory is near impossible as the froth is
very different to that at full scale. Therefore frother work is usually performed in plant trials which often
produce inconclusive results.
Metso has built a fully instrumented 3m3 transportable flotation rig which can be operated in a variety
of different modes of operation. This cell provides a means of evaluating frothers at a realistic scale in
a highly controlled environment. BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd (BHP Billiton) hired the cell to test
different frothers and determine the optimum froth addition point in a coarse scavenging application.

This paper outlines the features of the Metso test cell and demonstrates how the cell can be used in
different modes of operation to perform flotation optimisation testwork, especially targeting the froth
phase.

Keywords: flotation, flotation frothers, flotation froth

INTRODUCTION

Metso has constructed a fully instrumented 3m3 test cell rig which has been designed to perform
metallurgical testwork at a realistic scale in a highly controlled manner.
BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd (BHP Billiton) hired the Metso 3m3 RCSTM test rig for a frother trial at
one of its operations. The objective was to test various types of frothers and to establish the optimum
dosage rate and where the frother should be added down its coarse scavenger bank. Froth recovery
is usually low in coarse scavenging applications as the froth tends to be unstable. BHP Billiton wanted
to investigate whether frother could be used to stabilise the froth and increase recovery in this type of
application.

Conventionally, this type of project would be performed using a combination of laboratory testwork and
plant trials.

As discussed by Comley et al, 2007, this type of testing is not ideal.

The froth at

laboratory scale is very different to that of a full scale cell. Froth depths are very different and the froth
in a laboratory cell is scraped rather than let flow over the lip. Plant trials often produce inconclusive
results because the froth structure is very sensitive to ore properties (e.g. particle size, hydrophobicity
and gangue composition). Any effect of a frother is completely masked by the hour by hour change in
the froth due to subtle changes in the ore feeding the process.
The Metso 3m3 test cell provides a means of evaluating frothers at a realistic scale in a highly
controlled environment. The cell has been designed to run in a variety of modes, allowing different
types of tests to be performed. These tests enable froth losses to be determined as a function of
frother addition. The cell can also be operated to replicate down the bank operation, allowing the
effect of staged addition of frother to also be evaluated.

The objective of this paper is to outline the features of the Metso test cell and provide examples of
how it can be used, in conjunction with froth analysis measurement procedures, to perform a froth
optimisation study.

METSOS 3M3 RCS FLOTATION TEST RIG

The Metso 3m3 RCSTM Test Rig Cell consists of two modules that can be disassembled to facilitate
transportation (Figure 1). The flotation tank is located on the upper platform with the products from the
flotation unit discharging via gravity to a product sump located on the bottom platform. A stair case
and grid mesh atop the cell enables personnel to safely access the top of the cell to make flotation
tank measurements.

Flotation Cell
Feed

Product Sump
Figure 1 Metso 3m3 Test Rig installed in parallel to one of Nickel Wests coarse scavenging flotation
circuit

The rig was designed to be used primarily for metallurgical testwork. It therefore incorporates easily
accessible full stream sampling points and is fully instrumented to enable stable operation. It has also
been designed to enable control and manipulation of the following flotation cell operating variables
feed flowrate, air rate, impeller speed and froth depth. The rig comes with three interchangeable froth
launder configurations and two sizes of RCS impeller.

Modes of Operation

The rig can operate in three models of operation open circuit, full recycle and tailing recycle. These
modes are pictorially represented in Figure 2.

From Plant
To Floor

To Plant

(a)

(b)

(c)

Figure 2 Modes of operation of the test cell (a)open circuit, (b) recycle and (c) recycle of tails

In open circuit mode, new feed is continually fed to the rig via gravity. The feed rate is measured and
maintained at set point by controlling the feed flow. The concentrate and tailing is discharged into the
product sump and then pumped back to the process from which it came. Sump level in the product
sump is measured with a level sensor and used to control the pump return rate.

In full recycle mode, there is no new feed to the rig. The concentrate and tailing stream are mixed in
the product sump and then recycled back as new feed. The feed flowrate is measured and controlled
by the pumping rate to maintain a constant feed flow. This mode enables operation of the rig with
unchanging feed properties. The pump has been sized to enable flowrates of up to 90m3/hr which
equates to a minimum flotation residence time of approximately 2 minutes.

In tailing recycle mode, only the tailings are recirculated back to the feed of the rig with the flexible
concentrate hose removed from the product sump and diverted. The feed flowrate is maintained at a
constant rate by controlling the product sump pump speed. In this mode of operation, the feed grade
to the cell continually reduces as the higher grade concentrate is removed from the system. The
concentrate can also be diverted for specified time intervals and the system returned to recycle mode
to investigate down the bank flotation kinetics.

Metallurgical Sampling Points

The feed sample is collected from a specially designed feed box on the upper module of the rig
(Figure 3a). A sample door has been fitted to this box so that it can be opened to enable a cutter to
pass through the discharging flow. Both the concentrate and tailings discharge through pipes into the
product pump sump (Figure 3b). Each pipe flows through a sampling box also fitted with a door to
enable sampling. The concentrate line is of flexible hosing so that it can be disconnected from the
sampling box and diverted for either timed concentrate collection or to remove concentrate from the
system when running in tailings recycle mode to vary the feed grade to the cell over time.

Figure 3 (a) Feed sampling box and (b) concentrate and tailing sampling boxes

Flotation Control System

Instruments are used to measure and control the key flotation operating variables. A PLC inputs and
outputs signals to the various instrumentation on the rig to maintain user defined variable set points.
This PLC interfaces with Metsos OCS process control system which provides the graphical user
interface to enable the input of process set points (Figure 4a), storage of process information and
implementation of any advanced process control logic. This system also provides trends of process
information which can be used to determine if the flotation cell is operating at steady state (Figure
4(b)).

Figure 4 (a) Test rig user graphical interface and (b) Trending of process data

Feed rate is measured using an Endress Hauser Promag S55 electromagnetic flow measuring
system. Feed rate is maintained at set point using either pump speed (when in recycle mode) or an
air controlled pinch valve on the feed line to the cell (when in continuous mode).

A blower is fitted to the rig to supply the required air to the flotation impeller via a draft tube. Air mass
flowrate is measured using a calorimetric air flow transmitter and controlled using a butterfly valve
located in the air line.

Froth depth is measured using an ultrasonic sensor that determines the vertical position of a ball float.
Rexroth dart valves in the cell tailing box are moved up and down to control the tail flow to achieve the
desired froth depth set point.
A camera has been installed above the flotation cell to collect froth images. VisiofrothTM within the
OCS Control system processes these images and determines froth velocity and other froth image
parameters. The user has the option to use this information for control, maintaining constant froth
velocity using either froth depth or cell air rate. These flow measurements can also be trended to
establish whether the concentrate flow rate off the cell is constant a good indicator that the cell is at
steady state.

Froth Launder Configuration Options

Alternative froth launders are supplied with the rig to enable the following froth launder configurations
(Figure 5):

peripheral launder

peripheral launder operated in conjunction with two cross flow launders

two cross flow launders without flow at the periphery

These different froth launders bolt onto the top of the flotation tank. To change between launders, the
current froth launder is unbolted, removed with a crane and replaced with a different froth launder.

(b) peripheral with

cross flow

(a) peripheral

(c) cross flow only

Figure 5 Froth launder configurations available with rig

Thus the froth transportation distance to discharge is a variable that can be changed for the cell.

FROTHER EVALUATION AT NICKEL WEST

The Metso test rig was installed at a Nickel West operation in parallel with its coarse scavenger
flotation bank. Feed to the cell was established using a siphon. A pipe was installed between the
scavenger feed box and the tank cell feed line. This pipe is filled with water and to establish flow, the
valve at the end of the pipe was opened. This siphoning system was set up to provide either a
continuous supply of feed to the Metso cell or to fill the cell up to perform a recycle test.
All testwork was performed using the peripheral froth launder configuration and the 3m3 sized RCSTM
impeller. Feed rate was fixed at 80m3/hr, air rate was fixed at 100m3/hr (equivalent to a Jg of
1.3cm/sec) and the impeller was operated at 90% of its maximum speed. These will be referred to as
the standard set of operating conditions throughput this paper.

In the following sections, the different tests performed using the cell to evaluate the effect of different
frothers on flotation cell recovery will be presented.

Froth Recovery Evaluation

Froth recovery is the fraction of particles entering the froth phase attached to bubbles that are
recovered to the concentrate launder.

Froth recovery is considered to be a function of the time particles spend in the froth phase (which is a
function of froth depth, air rate and the froth transportation distance) and the froth stability (which is a
function of the frother type and concentration and the particle loading in the froth) (Mathe et al, 1998).
Froth recovery has been shown to drop significantly down a bank of flotation cells: Savassi et al
(1997) measured the froth recovery to be 70% in the first cell of an industrial flotation bank but only
10% in the last cell of the bank.

One method of estimating froth recovery in a cell is to operate at different froth depths. This technique
was first proposed by Feteris et al (1997) and later used by Vera et al (1998) to measure froth
recovery in a laboratory scale continuously operated cell. Feteris (1997) and Vera (1998) observed a
linear relationship between flotation rate and froth depth. They propose that this linear relationship
can be extrapolated to predict the flotation rate at zero froth depth (Figure 6). At zero froth depth,
there should be no loss in recovery due to the froth phase and therefore the rate at zero froth depth
should be equal to the collection zone flotation rate constant.

-1

Flotation Rate (min )

0.12
Collection Zone
Rate Constant = 0.101 min-1

0.10
0.08
0.06
0.04
0.02
0.00
0

4
6
Froth Depth (cm)

10

Figure 6 Using the flotation rate versus froth depth relationship to estimate the collection zone
flotation rate constant

Flotation rate constant in a perfectly mixed environment is a function of the cell residence time and the
recovery measured in the process (Eq(1)). Froth recovery can be shown to equal the flotation rate
constant divided by the pulp flotation rate constant (Eq(2)) (Feteris et al, 1987).

k=

R
(1 - R)

Rf =

k
kc

(1)

(2)

Therefore by performing tests at different froth depths and measuring recovery, the flotation rate
constant can be determined at each froth depth, the collection zone rate constant can be determined
by extrapolation of the relationship depicted in Figure 5 and Equation 2 can then be used to calculate
the froth recovery at every froth depth. It should be noted that the froth recovery established using this
method is only that pertaining to within the froth and not to losses that may occur at the pulp froth
interface (Seaman et al., 2006).

This technique is not often applied successfully in full scale flotation cells. The time necessary to
perform the test can be many hours as one has to wait till the cell reaches steady state after each
change in froth depth. The technique is only successful if the feed conditions remain the same over
the period of the test hours of continual steady operation is difficult to achieve in an industrial
operation. Measurement of recovery, in particular for a scavenger cell, is very difficult as the grade
differences between the feed and tailing are often small. Thus mass balancing is only possible using
estimates of feed flow and concentrate flow which are often difficult to obtain accurately for a large full
scale flotation cell.

These problems do not exist when using a test cell. Recovery can be established accurately as the
feed flow and concentrate flow can be accurately measured. By running in recycle mode, the feed can
be kept very constant for the many hours required to do the test, resulting in very stable operation. It
should be kept in mind, however, that there is risk when running in recycle that the ore will oxidise and
change its floatability during the testing period repeat testing should be performed to determine
whether this is a problem for the ore stream being tested.

Many changing froth depth tests were performed over a month long period to establish the froth
recovery versus froth depth relationship for the scavenger feed in the Metso cell operated at the
standard set of operating conditions. Each test involved filling the cell up with the scavenger feed and
establishing steady state at a particular froth depth. Samples were collected, the froth depth changed
and the cell allowed a minimum of 30 minutes to reach steady state again.

This procedure was

repeated until a total of three froth depths had been surveyed. Sampling involved collection of the
feed, concentrate and tailing samples. Concentrate flow was also measured during sampling by
diverting flow for a timed period into a 50 litre bucket. Samples were dried wet and dry and assayed
for nickel, iron, sulphur, MgO and arsenic.

At each condition, mass balancing techniques were used to reconcile assays, estimate unknown flows
and calculate elemental recoveries. These recoveries were used to calculate nickel flotation rate as a
function of froth depth.

Figure 7 shows the nickel flotation rate as a function of froth depth for each day of testing.

Nickel Flotation Rate (min-1)

27-Jul

0.3

28-Jul
1-Aug

0.25

3-Aug

0.2

4-Aug

0.15

5-Aug
6-Aug

0.1

7-Aug

0.05

15-Aug
16-Aug

0
0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

17-Aug
18-Aug

Froth Depth (cm)

19-Aug

Figure 7 Nickel flotation rate constant as a function of froth depth

The relationship between nickel flotation rate and froth depth was linear on some days of testing (e.g.
27th July and 7th August) but on most days exhibited some degree of curvature (e.g. 3rd August and 6th
August results). This is in contrast to the observations made by Vera et al (1998) and Feteris et al
(1997) and may be due to the greater froth transportation distances at this scale of testing.
Nevertheless a linear relationship was fitted to all relationships to estimate collection zone rate
constant and froth recovery at each froth depth.

The collection zone rate constant (flotation rate at zero froth depths) was estimated to be very different
on the different days of testing ranging from 0.35 to 0.1 min-1. This is expected as its likely on
different days that the viscosity, particle size, mineralogical composition and surface hydrophobicity
would be different and this would result in different overall nickel collection zone flotation rate
constants.

Interestingly, however, almost all the data fitted the same froth recovery versus froth depth relationship
(Figure 8). The only data that does not fit this relationship well is that measured on the 1st August. On
this day, the ore was very viscous and bubbling was observed disturbing the froth phase. This test is
therefore considered an anomalous result.

The loss in recovery across the froth phase at a particular froth depth, therefore, was found to be the
same regardless of the collection zone rate constant.

Nickel Froth Recovery (%)

27-Jul

100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

28-Jul
1-Aug
3-Aug
4-Aug
5-Aug
6-Aug
7-Aug
15-Aug
16-Aug

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

Froth Depth (cm)

17-Aug
18-Aug
19-Aug

Figure 8 Nickel froth recovery as a function of froth depth

Froth recovery at a particular froth depth was also found to be independent of nickel concentrate

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Froth Recovery (%)

Froth Recovery (%)

grade and the percent solids in the concentrate, an example of which is shown in Figure 9.

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0

Normalised Concentrate Grade (%)

10

15

20

Concentrate % Solids

Figure 9 Froth recovery measured at 6 cm froth depth as a function of (a) normalised concentrate
grade (concentrate grade divided by the maximum measured concentrate grade) and (b) concentrate
percent solids

This was not an expected result. Nickel concentrate grade and the percent solids in the concentrate
varied significantly in the different tests. Froth stability, which is thought to affect froth recovery, has
been measured to change with a change in these properties in other ore systems (Hatfield, 2006,
Runge et al, 2007).

In summary, it was concluded that the loss in recovery across the froth phase was significant for the
scavenger feed stream. The cell could not be operated at froth depths greater than 6 cm without
concentrate flow ceasing completely (froth recovery = 0)

High froth recovery values were only

achievable at very shallow froth depths which resulted in high recoveries of water to concentrate, high
entrainment recovery and low concentrate grades.

Effect of Frother addition on Froth Recovery

Tests were performed to determine if frother addition could be used to increase froth stability and
increase froth recovery at a particular froth depth. A variety of different frothers of different chemical
composition were tested during this work.

A typical test involved running the test cell at three different froth depths to establish a baseline
condition. Frother was then added and the cell was run and sampled again at three different froth
depths. This methodology allows the froth recovery versus froth depth relationship, discussed in the
previous section, to be established for the before and after frother addition conditions.

These types of tests were performed for a range of different frothers added in different combinations
and at different dosage rates. The results of these frother trials are confidential but an example of the
type of results obtained from this analysis is shown in Figure 10 and Figure 11. In this test, the
addition of frother significantly decreased the nickel recovery (and thus the nickel flotation rate
constant) measured in the cell at a particular froth depth. Both the froth depth versus rate constant
relationships, however, extrapolate to the same point at zero froth depth indicating that the frother

Nickel Flotation Rate (min-1)

has not affected the collection zone rate constant.

0.12
0.1
Before Frother

0.08

After Frother

0.06
0.04
0.02
0
0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

Froth Depth (cm)

Figure 10 Nickel flotation rate versus froth depth before and after the addition of frother

This loss in recovery is therefore due to a decrease in froth recovery (Figure 11). The frother has in
this case either destabilized the froth or decreased froth mobility and this has had an adverse affect on
flotation recovery. It was thus concluded that this frother should not be trialled in the plant.

Nickel Froth Recovery (%)

90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0

Before Frother
After Frother

0.0

2.0

4.0

6.0

8.0

Froth Depth (cm)

Figure 11 Froth recovery versus froth depth before and after the addition of frother

Down the Bank Frother Testwork

It may not be optimal to add frother only at the head of the scavenger bank. Improved grade versus
recovery may be achievable by adding the frother incrementally down the bank. The test cell can be
operated to replicate down the bank conditions, enabling frother to be added at different stages of the
experiment.

The objective is to replicate a number of perfectly mixed cells in series. This form of operation is
achieved in the test cell using the following steps:
1. The rig is filled with slurry using the siphon system
2. The cell is operated in recycle mode until steady state is achieved
3. The cell is sampled (or alternatively the cell is operated at three froth depths to determine froth
recovery as a function of froth depth for this stage)
4. The concentrate is diverted for a period of time, tdiversion
5. The cell is returned to recycle mode by diverting the concentrate back into the system
6. Repeat steps 2 to 5 in successive steps to replicate down the bank operation

The concentrate is diverted for the time required for the feed to the cell for the next stage to be equal
to the tail of the preceding stage. This is achieved when the recovery from the entire system (slurry in
the cell and product sump) during concentrate diversion is equal to the recovery achieved in the cell in
the previous stage of flotation.

Recovery of any component when the cell is run in recycle is equal to its flow in the concentrate
divided by its flow in the feed (Eq(3)).

R recycle =

Q c ,recycle
Qf

(3)

Recovery of a component from the system during concentrate diversion is equal to the average
volumetric flowrate of the component in the concentrate multiplied by the time of diversion divided by
the volume of the component in the entire system (Eq(4)).

R system =

Q c,diversiom t diversion

(4)

Vsystem

Time of diversion required for the recovery of the recycle mode to equal that of the recovery during
diversion can be calculated by making Equation 3 and Equation 4 equivalent and re-arranging (Eq(5)).

t diversion =

Vsystem Q c,recycle

(5)

Q f Q c,diversion

If the flow to concentrate during diversion is assumed to equal the flow to concentrate during the
previous recycle stage, Equation 5 can be simplified to the form shown in Equation 6.

Time of

diversion, using this assumption, is only a function of the volume of all components in the system
(tank, sump and associated pipework) and the volumetric flowrate of all components in the cell feed
stream.

t diversion =

Vsystem

(6)

Qf

A test was performed in which the flow to concentrate during diversion was measured. Figure 11
shows the flow of nickel measured in these tests as a function of time. Over the proposed period of
diversion, the flow to concentrate of this component is equal to the flow of concentrate during the

Flow of nickel (grams/sec)

previous recycle stage (time zero in Figure 12).

1.8
1.6
1.4
1.2
1
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
0

200

400

600

800

1000

Time (seconds)

Figure 12 - Flow of nickel as a function of time during concentrate diversion

Down the bank testwork was performed in this way using the test rig at the Nickel West operation.
Figure 13 shows a typical grade versus recovery relationship obtained for four stages of sequential
flotation. Values in this plot have been normalised for confidentiality reasons. It should be noted that
the number of flotation stages that can be measured using the rig is limited by the need to maintain
sufficient volume in the bottom sump to avoid feed pump cavitation.

Large volume flows of

Cumulative Normalised
Grade (%)

concentrate, therefore reduce the number of stages that can be measured during an experiment.

1.0
0.8
0.6
0.4
0.2
0.0
0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

Cumulative Normalised Nickel Recovery (%)

Figure 13 Down the bank nickel concentrate grade versus recovery achieved using the Metso test
cell (values normalised by dividing by the maximum grade and recovery achieved)

Nickel recovery and grade was found to be very similar in the different stages of flotation. This is
similar to that observed in the full scale scavenger bank.

Figure 14 shows pictorially the measured nickel grade and percent solids in the feed and tailing of
each flotation stage in the above experiment. There are some differences between the grades of the
tail and feed of subsequent stages, especially with respect to water content. This is attributed to
settling effects in the pump sump. The pump sump is not comprehensively mixed so a drop in pump
sump volume results in more mixing and more of the settled solids being pumped in the feed. It is
planned to add a false bottom to the pump sump to minimise these effects.

0.24 %Ni
36.8%S

0.23 %Ni
39.2%S

0.23 %Ni
37.9%S

0.23 %Ni
42.6%S

0.22 %Ni
40.0%S

0.22 %Ni
43.4%S

Figure 14 Nickel grade and percent solids of a typical down the bank flotation test

At the time of publication of this paper, frother optimisation using the down the bank procedure had yet
to be performed. It is planned to measure froth recovery as a function of flotation stage (i.e perform

changing froth depth tests for different stages of flotation) and to compare the effect of adding frother
at the head of the bank with adding frother incrementally down the bank.

CONCLUSIONS
The Metso RCSTM test rig has been designed to be suitable for performing metallurgical testwork. It
incorporates accessible metallurgical sampling points. Instrumentation and the control system enable
very stable operation.

The top surface of the tank can be accessed to enable measurement of tank

flotation properties. The inclusion of a pump/sump as an integral part of the rig enables the cell to be
run in different modes of operation, allowing a variety of different types of tests to be performed. Key
flotation performance parameters (i.e. air rate, froth depth, percent solids, residence time, froth
transportation distance, impeller speed) can be varied

The Nickel West case-study has demonstrated how the rig is suitable for froth related optimisation
testwork. It enables a realistic scale of experiment to be performed with froth properties that will be
similar to that of an industrial cell. By operating the cell in recycle, the feed is unchanging and effects
can be established with confidence. Tests can be performed to estimate the losses across the froth
phase as a function of froth depth and the effect of frother addition.

It has been shown that froth recovery in the test cell when treating the scavenger feed stream
decreases significantly with froth depth. The relationship between froth recovery and froth depth was
measured to be the same on all days of testing and independent of nickel concentrate grade, nickel
flotation rate and concentrate percent solids. This relationship can be changed significantly, however,
by the addition of frother.

The method by which the test cell can be used to replicate down the bank flotation performance has
been outlined. This mode of operation has the potential to enable the difference between adding
frother at the head of scavenger and adding it incrementally down the bank to be determined.

Froth vision has been recorded and froth stability has been measured during all the flotation testwork
outlined in this paper. It is hoped that the mechanisms by which the different frothers affect the froth
properties that ultimately affect froth recovery loss will be explained from an analysis of this
information.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge all those involved in the design, construction and
commissioning of the Metso test rig.

This includes Richard Peaker and Jeff Leonard who provided

the logistical and financial support for the project, Stephen Mansell and his team who designed and
managed construction and Michael Pike, Jaclyn McMaster, Turker Ozkocak, Nathan Hanrahan and

Michael Wortley who were involved in mechanical and instrumentation commissioning. The support of
the site personnel, Nickel West technical group and Metso personnel who were involved in the
testwork at the Nickel operation is also gratefully acknowledged.

REFERENCES

Comley, B.A., Vera, M.A., Franzidis, J.P., 2007.

Interpretation of the effect of frother type and

concentration on flotation performance in an OK3 cell. Minerals and Metallurgical Processing, Vol 24,
No 3, pp243-252.

Feteris, S.M., Frew, J.A. and Jowett, A., 1987.

Modelling the effect of froth depth in flotation,

International Journal of Mineral Processing, 20, pp121-135.

Hatfield, D.P., 2006. Factors affecting froth surface descriptors and the implications for froth structure
and flotation performance, PhD Thesis, University of CapeTown.

Mathe, Z.T., Harris, M.C., OConnor, C.T. and Franzidis, J.P., 1998. Review of froth modelling in
steady state flotation systems. Minerals Engineering, Vol 12, No 3, pp397-421.

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