Effect of reagents and minerals on

froth electrical conductivity in pilot

scale froth flotation process

Juhani Ramberg
 Who has done the research?

this investigation was carried out by

Ramberg, Juhani Sakari
 What is it about?

This thesis studies how the changes to the

flotation process caused by adjusting pH and the
dosage of the flotation reagents affect the
electrical conductivity of the froth flotation froth
in different parts of the froth.
 Where was it made?

was carried out in the pilot plant of the Mine

School of Oulu at the University of Oulu
 What was the objective?

The objective of this thesis is to study how changes

caused by adjusting the pH and dosage of flotation
reagents affect the electrical conductivity of the
froth. Assumption was that adjusting of reagent
dosages affects process parameters, most
important ones being froth thickness and stability,
bubble size and elemental compositions, which in
turn affect the electrical conductivity. Differences in
the values and behaviour of conductivity between
different parts of the froth were also observed
 What results did you get?

The results from the experimental part showed that

the changing dosage of chemical regents and pH
causes changes in process which also affected the
electrical conductivity of the froth. Especially
bubble size and froth thickness had clearly an effect
on the conductivity. Furthermore, the conductivity
values and changes to them were different in
different layers of the froth, when the froth was
thick. In a thin froth, the differences in the
conductivity values and changes in them between
the froth layers were much smaller.
 Reflectance Spectrum Analysis of
Mineral Flotation Froths and Slurries
Olli Haavisto
 Who has done the research?

this investigation was carried out by Olli

Haavisto
 What is it about?

This thesis focuses on froth flotation, which is

one of the most common concentration
methods in mineral engineering. Froth flotation
is used to separate valuable minerals from
mined ore that has been crushed, mixed with
water and ground to a small particle size.
 Where was it made?

was carried out in the Control Engineering

Research Group (former Control Engineering
Laboratory) of Helsinki University of Technology
(TKK)
 What was the objective?

The main objective is to evaluate the usefulness

of the color information for analyzing the
elemental contents of the slurries, and to apply
the improved grade measurements to flotation
process monitoring and control. The primary
improvement aimed for is the shortening of the
presently rather long sampling interval of a
typical XRF analyzer.
 What results did you get?

The main results of the thesis show that VNIR

reflectance spectroscopy can be used to
measure temporal changes in the elemental
contents of mineral flotation froths and slurries
in the analyzed process. Especially the slurry
measurements from the final concentrates
provide accurate information on the slurry
contents.