A froth flotation process is used to concentrate copper ore. It is a two stage process with a rougher stage followed by a cleaner stage. The cleaner tailings are returned to the rougher flotation. Both stages are non-reactive unit operations and both operate at steady-state. the analytical profile of the entire flotation circuit is:
The rougher flotation feed grade is 0.50%Cu
The rougher concentration grade is 11.9%Cu
The rougher tailings conain 0.10%Cu
The final cleaner concentrate grade is 33.0%Cu
The cleaner tailings contain 4.5%Cu
a. Calculate the overall copper recovery for this process.
b.Calculate the copper recovery inthe cleaner flotation operation.
c. assuming the flotation process treats 75 tons/hr of copper ore, calculate the circulating load (in tons/hr) of cleaner tailings that return to the rougher flotation under steady-state operation.