Insight into the effects of grinding media on the flotation kinetics of chalcopyrite

The grinding medium has a significant effect on the flotation performance of chalcopyrite. Flotation kinetics is considered an excellent tool for evaluating flotation performance. In this study, the effects of two grinding media, cast iron balls (CIB) and ceramic balls (CB), on the flotation kinetics of chalcopyrite were investigated. The chalcopyrite particles produced by grinding with CB medium exhibited higher performance in terms of both experimental recovery and cumulative ultimate recovery (epsilon(infinity)) than those with CIB medium because of the formation of fewer FeOOH on the chalcopyrite surfaces. The classical first-order model (epsilon - epsilon(infinity) (1- e(-kt)) )showed the best agreement with the experimental recovery data in the case of grinding with the CB medium, whereas either the second-order model with a rectangular distribution of floatabilities (epsilon = epsilon(infinity){1 -1/kt [ln (1 + kt)]) or the classical first-order model (epsilon = epsilon(infinity)(1- e(-kt))) was considered the optimum model in the case of the CIB grinding medium depending on the experimental conditions. (c) 2022 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B.V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.