The influence of water chemistry on the efficiency of froth flotation: a simulation-based approach

As the mining industry is facing an increasing number of issues related to its fresh water consumption, the role of water chemistry on the efficiency of froth flotation has recently become a particularly hot topic. In order to tackle the uncertainty of the flotation response when the water quality is changing, flotation tests are generally being carried in different water qualities to determine the shift of the grade – recovery curve.
Despite providing valuable information on the flotation response, the currently used approach does not deliver the required data for the simulation of a flotation circuit. Consequently, a novel approach needs to be implemented and provide a framework for such simulation and predictive modeling.
In this paper, the limitations of the currently used approach to predict the influence of water chemistry on froth flotation are highlighted. A simulation-based approach is presented as an alternative, along with the advantages and potentially considerable outcomes of this methodology for the sustainable use of fresh water in the mineral processing industry.