Influence of operating parameters on the Apatite flotation kinetics

The purpose of this study was to investigate the controllable operating parameters influence, including pH, solid content, collector, co-collector, and depressant dose, and conditioning time, on apatite flotation kinetics. Four first order flotation kinetic models are tested on batch flotation time-recovery profiles. The results of batch flotation tests and the fitting of first-order kinetic models to assess the influence of operating parameters on the flotation kinetics indicated that model with fast and slow - floating components and classical model gave the best and the worst fit for experimental data, respectively. Also, rectangular distribution of floatabilities and gamma distribution of floatabilities fitted the experimental data well. In this study, the model with rectangular distribution of floatabilities associated with fractional factorial experimental design was employed to evaluate the effect of six main parameters on kinetic parameters (R_∞, K). The result indicated that linear effects of depressant dose, conditioning time, and the interaction effects of solid concentration and pH statistically were important on ultimate recovery but the significant parameters for flotation rate constant were linear effects of solids content, depressant dosage and the interaction effect between pH and conditioning time. Regression equations obtained to relate between flotation operation and kinetic parameters.