Tag Archives: flotation cells

Minera Arqueros to use Metso equipment for copper sulphide concentrator

12th December 2023Base metals, Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mineral project development, Mining equipment, Mining servicesAntti Rinne, ball mill, Chile, ColumnCell, Coquimbo, crushers, feeders, Finland, flotation cells, Minera Arqueros S.A., Planet Positive, Pori, screeners, TankCell®Daniel Gleeson

Minera Arqueros S.A. has awarded Metso an order to deliver the key equipment for its greenfield copper sulphide concentrator plant project in Coquimbo, Chile.

The value of the order exceeds €10 million ($6.6 million), with the scope of delivery covering the equipment from crushing to flotation, including, for example, feeders and vibrating screens, primary, secondary and tertiary crushers, a ball mill, as well as several TankCell® and ColumnCell™flotation cells.

The grinding mill and TankCell flotation cells are part of Metso’s Planet Positive offering, thanks to their energy and water efficiency, Metso says.

Antti Rinne, Vice President, Flotation at Metso, said: “Minera Arqueros partnered with Metso already in the early stages of the project. We conducted test work for the flotation technology in our R&D Center in Pori, Finland, and supported Arqueros in the flowsheet design for the plant. We have had continuous cooperation since the start of the project, and we look forward to continuing to work with Arqueros.”

DELKOR’s MAXGen-equipped BQR flotation cells gain traction in mineral processing space

31st May 2022Base metals, Energy minerals, Industrial minerals, Metallurgy, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining services, Precious metals, Steel and iron orecopper, DELKOR, eDART, flotation cells, fluorspar, Honduras, Iron ore, lead, MAXGen, Rajiv Krishnamurthy, Silver, TAKRAF, zincDaniel Gleeson

TAKRAF Group says it is registering strong demand for its new generation DELKOR BQR flotation cell, now equipped with the MAXGen mechanism for best-in-class metallurgical performance across a wide range of commodities.

Its MAXGen-equipped cells were first commercially applied at a cement works in India, in order to maximise limestone recovery. In other, more recent orders, the cells are being applied across a range of commodities with the technology selected for both its superior metallurgical performance, as well as DELKOR’s ability to provide a cost-effective and customised solution, the company said.

The string of recent orders includes 12 BQR flotation cells for a fluorspar processing plant in Spain. Here, the cells are equipped with eDART internal dart valves for the larger cells and external pinch valves for the small cell. eDART valves are known globally for their superior and safe design, TAKRAF said.

Five BQR flotation cells are also being used for the processing of iron ore in Honduras.

As part of an economically viable package, the cells were supplied with a reagent system and an air blower, as well as conductivity-type level sensors for accurate froth level detection and control, TAKRAF said.

The company also dispatched 11 BQR flotation cells for two gold mines in Australia.

Special features of this application included a dual outlet froth discharge box with dart plugs to divert the froth to different pipelines based on the metal grade of the froth. In addition, adjustable froth lips enable flexibility of froth discharge into the launders. Given the high ultraviolet (UV) levels of the environment, UV resistance paint was provided to protect the rubber lining, the company added.

In South Africa, four BQR flotation cells for iron ore recovery from a zinc, lead, silver and copper concentrator tailings stream were installed.

At this operation, a built-in cell by-pass system with external dart valves and a backpressure pipe were included in the flotation circuit. The bypass system allows bypassing of a cell for maintenance without having to shut the circuit down completely, while the rest of the cells can keep running with a proportionately reduced flow rate, TAKRAF explained. Backpressure piping ensures consistent slurry level management in the last cell, resulting in superior circuit metallurgical performance, meanwhile.

Finally, six BQR flotation cells were supplied for a nickel restart project in Australia. Features include a dual outlet froth discharge box with dart plugs, adjustable froth lips and a gearbox drive for the largest cell. UV resistant paint was also provided to protect the rubber lining.

Rajiv Krishnamurthy, Sales Manager – Europe DELKOR Products, said: “Our MAXGen mechanism is the result of extensive research and development. Our mechanism provides superior recoveries with higher mineral grade, along with faster flotation kinetics, which is achieved by generating favourable bubble size distribution and energy efficient hydrodynamics in the cell.

“Other outstanding benefits include the rotor and stator configuration, which enables the rotor to operate at a lower tip speed, reducing operational costs with lower power consumption and wear. These benefits also going a long way to supporting our group’s sustainability efforts.”

He concluded: “The demand for our new generation cells is testimony both to the excellence of our in-house developed technologies, as well as our global team’s commitment to providing our clients with a solution that exactly meets their needs. These projects are a great reference for DELKOR and serve to entrench our new generation flotation cells as a premier global flotation technology.”

Metso Outotec supports GTK Mintec’s pilot plant plans with new flotation cells

15th December 2020Comminution of minerals, Mineral processing, Mining equipment, Mining servicesComminution, flotation cells, Geological Survey of Finland, GTK, GTK Mintec, Jouko Nieminen, Metso Outotec, Stephan KirschDaniel Gleeson

Metso Outotec is set to deliver new, smart flotation cells to GTK Mintec’s pilot plant in Outokumpu, Finland, as part of the survey’s modernisation and expansion program.

The delivery consists of around 20 pilot flotation machines and additional equipment, with GTK Mintec replacing existing flotation cells at its pilot plant.

The new flotation cells will support the improvement of the monitoring of beneficiation studies and process design, according to Metso Outotec.

“GTK and Metso Outotec promote sustainable and competitive mining technologies,” Stephan Kirsch, President of Metso Outotec’s Minerals business area, says. “We are pleased that GTK chose Metso Outotec’s leading-edge flotation technology for their test facilities.”

Jouko Nieminen, Head of the Circular Economy Solutions unit for the Geological Survey of Finland (GTK), said: “The test plant and laboratory in Outokumpu offer mining customers a comprehensive service package. The whole production process needed for a mineral deposit can be tested there on the scale required by the research problem.

“Through the flotation investment, our domestic and international customers can use state-of-the-art technology in research related to battery minerals and circular economy materials, for example.”

Outotec bolsters flotation line with new cells, control solutions

10th February 2020Comminution of minerals, IoT, Mineral processingCellStation, ExactLevel, flotation, flotation cells, FrothSense, Outotec, TankCell®Daniel Gleeson

Outotec says it has expanded its offering with new flotation cell and level-control solutions for “superior metallurgical performance”.

The new solutions from the mineral processing equipment manufacturer includes the Outotec TankCell s-Series flotation units – standardised units based on the company’s proven TankCell e-Series solution – and Outotec CellStation (pictured), an “intelligent and easy-to-operate solution” for controlling the air feed and pulp level in flotation cells, it said.

Outotec TankCell s-Series flotation units are “easy to operate, allow a flexible layout, and are designed to enable gains in throughput, grade, and recovery, while improving the sustainability and minimising the environmental impact of your process”, it said.

The units are built with cost-effective standardised equipment delivered preconfigured to optimise delivery lead time and capital expenditure, the company added.

“Based on in-depth test work, we can design a tailor-made flotation circuit based on the s-Series that will deliver optimised cell volume and residence time for your plant,” Outotec said, adding that units are available in sizes from 5 cu.m to 30 cu.m.

Outotec CellStation, meanwhile, is an intelligent solution that simplifies the “often-complex task of controlling the air feed and pulp levels in flotation cells”, Outotec said. This is a task that becomes more challenging as the number and complexity of cells increases, it added.

The solution incorporates Outotec’s ExactLevel controller, which enables more accurate level control and significantly reduces process disturbance, resulting in more stable froth conditions and therefore improvements in the flotation cell’s metallurgical performance, it said.

CellStation has plug-and-play connectivity with the Outotec FrothSense sensor system, which measures the essential properties of froth, including speed, direction, bubble size, stability, and colour, and provides statistical data related to these variables.