Abstract Bench scale flotations were carried out to investigate an alternative collector reagent with a more sustainable bias, with selective action at the mineral interface to replace the standard hydrocarbon-base collector used for graphite’s flotation, the kerosene. A soy bio oil was produced by a transesterification reaction to perform as a collector. The study used graphite ore with 5.85% carbon content obtained from Salto da Divisa/MG region, in Bahia-Minas Province, Brazil. The design of experiments showed that the bio ester performed 11% higher than kerosene as a graphite’s collector, improving the flotation’s selectivity with 62% ore grade by bio oil and 88% recovery, against 54% ore grade using kerosene and 77% recovery. The chemical composition investigated with XPS analysis for both concentrates with kerosene and bio ester demonstrated the influence of esters and oxigenated-groups on oxidized graphite surfaces.

Abstract Flocculation is a complex process, usually dependant on various conditions to perform adequately. Nevertheless, the relevance and interaction of the process variables are not easily found in literature. In this study, nine variables of ultrafine quartz flocculation systems, defined in Part 1 of this study, were analysed. The effects of each variable and their interactions in the system were investigated based on flocculation and sedimentation tests. The results were statistically evaluated using the supernatant turbidity as experimental response. The evaluations resulting from the statistical approach indicated that suspension pH (5.49%) was the most significant variable, followed by flocculant concentration (4.07%) with the second greatest effect on the turbidity of the supernatant. Solid concentration, agitation intensity, and surfactant conditioning time (4.05%, 3.51% and 3.51%, respectively), also have significant effects on ultrafine quartz flocculation. The flocculant concentration and the surfactant conditioning time were the variables with the most significant interactions with the main variables. The Camp Number values showed a negative exponential relationship with the turbidity results, proving to be an important tool to evaluate flocculation. Backscattered electron scanning microscopy images of flocs formed in the presence of 30 g/t PAM showed compact flocs in the size range between 150 and 365 µm, with noticeable sphericity.

Abstract A characterization study was performed to verify the more relevant physicochemical properties for quartz flocculation with polyacrylamide, as well as to define which variables should be further investigated regarding this flocculation system. Polyacrylamide was evaluated through molecular weight, radius of gyration, and infrared spectrometry. A natural quartz sample was investigated regarding its particle size distribution, specific surface area, mineralogical and chemical composition. The zeta potential of quartz with flocculant and surfactant was also analyzed. The results indicated that the quartz had high purity and particle sizes between 38 and 10 µm, which was within the intended particle size range; the flocculant presented a suitable molecular weight for the proposed flocculation system. Based on literature, nine variables were chosen to be investigated in Part II of this study: flocculant and surfactant concentration, flocculant and surfactant conditioning time, flocculation addition time, agitation intensity, pH of the suspension, flocculation time, and solid concentration.

Abstract The inefficiency in controlling the slurry/froth interface level of a scavenger column flotation stage was severely impairing the process performance of an iron mining company, increasing the iron content in the tailings to levels above 20% and, consequently, not meeting the company's iron recovery and pellet feed production targets. Based on mass balance and process data, hydraulic calculations were performed and showed that the installed 6.0" (15.24cm) diameter barometric leg tubes and the control system valve were adequate. An equation to determine the maximum barometric leg height was developed for the flotation column and other calculations showed the necessity to reduce this height from 4.6m to a maximum of 3.4m. The barometric leg adequacy considerably decreased the variability in controlling the slurry/froth interface level, reduced the iron content in the tailings from 24.9% to 18.9% and increased the iron recovery in the flotation stage from 97.9% to 98.7%.

Abstract Mining projects are often budgeted in millions of dollars, making it of interest to the investor to measure a project’s uncertainties and risks, which include the changes in the commodity price. The simulation of asset prices is valid because it enables displaying, with a degree of certainty, the future behavior of a financial asset. One of the most commonly used mathematical forecast models is the Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM) model. This article aims at simulating the forecast price of an iron ore commodity with the GBM method based on the historical price series and comparing it to other forecast approaches used in the financial market. The results of this study indicate that the model has limitations, which should be considered. However, it is an overall good tool to support the economic evaluation of a project, if performed along with other approaches.