QUALITY IMPROVEMENT OF COPPER CONCENTRATES BY COLUMN FLOTATION

Detailed laboratory column flotation tests were conducted to improve t he quality of copper concentrate at Malanjkhand Copper Project (MCP) o f Hindusthan Copper Limited (HCL). Amenability of column as cleaner wa s studied on the rougher concentrates of lean and typical copper ores. Effect of column parameters viz. air flow rate, feed flow rate and co lumn height were studied in addition to usual flotation parameters. Pe rformance of column was found to be far superior compared to conventio nal mechanical cells in obtaining cleaner concentrates. The studies es tablished the feasibility of reducing the acid insolubles in the clean er concentrates to as low as 2-3% by adoption of column in cleaner cir cuit.