Enhanced Flotation of Dolomite Particles by Grinding with Short Cylindrical Media

Abstract

In the field of mineral processing, the successful flotation of target minerals requires sufficient liberation through grinding. The aim of this paper is to compare and evaluate the performance of ball versus short cylindrical media for comminution of dolomite by point and line contact, respectively. The results of the grinding experiments indicate that short cylinders generate more angular particles with intermediate sizes and exhibit a higher grinding efficiency compared to balls. The Population Balance Model demonstrates the distribution of broken fragment sizes during the breaking stage for each size range. The results of the DEM (discrete element method) grinding simulation are consistent with the experimental findings in terms of the distribution of particle sizes, the shape of the particles, and the distribution of broken fragment sizes. Furthermore, short cylinders selectively produce more active {104} crystal surface of dolomite, which possess a higher adsorption capacity with collectors and are preferentially floated as the concentrate. In reverse flotation for removal of dolomite, tests confirm that the products obtained from grinding with short cylinders exhibit a higher flotation recovery of dolomite compared to those obtained from ball grinding. This study provides a reference scheme for optimizing the grinding and flotation processes of valuable minerals.