Tuneable energy dissipation for optimal flotation recovery

本课题旨在探索一条提高粗粒矿物浮选回收率的新途径。在机械细胞中，由于需要高功率输入来悬浮固体，粗颗粒可以分离。流化床提供了一个温和得多的环境，但浮选过程不能得到最佳控制，因为床的条件是由进料决定的。该项目将提出添加外来颗粒，可以在流化床内调整以产生最佳条件，最大限度地提高选定颗粒的捕获率，同时最大限度地减少它们的分离倾向。这种新方法有望增加可浮动颗粒的尺寸范围，从而大大降低研磨能量需求。

This project aims to develop a new way of improving mineral flotation recovery of coarse particles. In mechanical cells, coarse particles can be detached due to high power input needed to suspend the solids. Fluidised beds provide a much gentler environment, but the flotation process cannot be optimally controlled because the bed conditions are determined by the incoming feed. This project will propose the addition of foreign particles that can be tuned to generate optimal conditions within the fluidised bed that maximise rate of capture of selected particles whilst minimising their tendency to detach. This new approach is expected to increase the size range of floatable particles resulting in a major reduction in grinding energy requirements.