THE EFFECT OF SOME DESIGN AND OPERATING PARAMETERS IN THE CYCLO-COLUMN CELL

Cyclo-column cell is a flotation device which makes use of centrifugal force for bubble-particle contact and incorporates a froth column wit h optional wash water to provide a clean froth product. In this study, the influence of certain design and operating variables (froth column type, number of feed pumps, inset length, froth column height, air fl owrate and wash water) on the performance of the cyclo-column cell was examined. It was found that the froth product obtained from the devic e could be rendered substantially cleaner by employing an expanded fro th column which permits effective drainage of pulp from the froth and minimizes entrainment of undesired minerals. For example, in the rever se flotation of a magnetite ore, the froth product (tailings) grade dr opped from 15.07% Fe in the case of a straight froth column to 8.72% F e with an expanded froth column of the same height. Application of was h water resulted in a further reduction of about 1.4% Fe in tailings g rade. The use of a single feed pump, as opposed to two pumps working i n series, produced a cleaner froth product but at a lower throughput. A froth column height of 205 mm and an inset length of 20 mm were foun d to be satisfactory; and an air flowrate of 20-25 scfh produced the b est results in terms of tailings grade and flotation rate.