Evaluation of Pyke model in Denver laboratory flotation cell for predicting pyrite flotation rate constants at different impeller speeds and particle sizes

The Pyke model is one of the fundamental models developed to predict the flotation rate constant. The model incorporates the effect of turbulence and hydrodynamic properties in the response of flotation sub-processes. The model has been evaluated in Rushton turbine flotation cells, which are induced-air flotation cells. The Denver self-aerated flotation cell is the most commonly used laboratory cell. The cell has fundamental differences in its aeration mechanism with a Rushton turbine tank aeration system. In this research, an attempt was made to investigate the performance of the Pyke model in predicting the flotation rate constant of pyrite from iron ore concentrate at different particle size ranges and impeller speeds. The experimental results showed that the flotation rate constants of intermediate and coarse particles were in the range of 1.1-2.1 and 0.8-1.1 s-1, respectively. In contrast, the fine particles had the lowest flotation rate constant in the range of 0.4-1.4 s-1. Besides, it was found that the flotation rate constants calculated using Pyke model are very similar to that of experiments for the coarse and intermediate particle sizes at different impeller speeds. However, for fine particles, the relative error between the measured and predicted values was greater than 4%. Some sources of error and limitations of the Pyke model are also discussed.