Avaliação do modelo dos compartimentos aplicado à flotação de minério de cobre

Abstract

The compartment model, developed by Savassi (2005) to simulate flotation, is based on mass transfer between pulp and froth phases and integrates the parameters related to these main mass transfer phenomena. Associated to this model, parallel models can be used to represent each of these phenomena. The compartment model, as well as a set of models that represent the froth recovery, the water recovery and the entrainment, is assessed. To do so, a simple flotation circuit was used to concentrate a chalcopyrite mineral, in a continuous flow, using a flotation Mini Pilot Plant. Results demonstrated that the compartment model provides a good integration among the parallel models and flotation phenomena, having been successfully calibrated.