50 Years of Innovation by Canadian Mineral Processors

50 Years of Innovation by Canadian Mineral Processors 50 th Annual Meeting of the Canadian Mineral Processors January, 2018 Flottec was honoured and recognized as one of the most innovative companies in the Mining Industry over the last 50 years and featured in the keynote address by Jan Nesset, distinguished lecturer of the CMP/CIM/SME

Technology Providers Flottec ▪ Mission: To create and build a unique technology company that is dedicated to advancing flotation technology by improving the application of chemistry, and the development of a more fundamental understanding of the process. ▪ The business model was to fund this technology development through the manufacturing and sales of mining chemicals, and by providing on site application and optimization services

Technology Providers Flottec How to participate in the development of innovative process technology without a research group ▪ Jointly funded the Industrial Research Development of Flottec’s Chair of Prof Jim Finch hydrodynamic curves for frothers at Mc. Gill (2004) ▪ Leveraged impact of funding: Canadian Gov’’t and other sponsors ▪ Metrix – JV with Blue ▪ Supply chemical expertise and technology transfer ▪ Gain access to laboratory facilities, human and intellectual capital

Original Concept Behind Flottec • Reagent companies focused too much on novel new specialty reagents (magic bullets) • Too little work being done on understanding and improve the flotation process itself • The Flottec vision was to build a technology company dedicated to advancing flotation process technology by improving the application of chemistry. HOW? ?

Mc. Gill Chair/Flottec The story of successful collaboration University – Center of research and human capital, provide project leadership Government/Mining Companies – Capital resources and project support Supplier – Provide Specific knowledge, devote time and effort and work to rapidly transfer technology as it is developed

Hydrodynamic Parameters: Pulp Zone Gas Rate (Jg), Gas holdup (εg), Bubble Size (Db) area cell bubbles air rate Parameter Definition Unit Jg air rate area cm/s εg volume of bubbles volume of cell % Db bubble diameter mm, cm Sb – Bubble Surface Area Flux (1/s)

The CCC and CCCX (%) concepts CCC value CCC 95 values closely approximate Laskowski’s CCC (critical coalescence concentration) values but easier to establish mathematically Modeling D 32 Represents the % reduction in a 7

Historical Chronology 1. 1990’s – Sensor development for ɛg, Jg and Db industrial measurement – demonstration of rate constant k = Sb relationship in plant data (Gorain, JKTech) 2. Gas Management – Grade enhancement by Air Profiling in cleaner flotation circuits (Cooper, Brunswick) 3. 2000’s – Role of frothers in hydrodynamics – Mc. Gill/Flottec collaboration 4. 2010’s – Transfer of technology to industry

Robust sensors for industrial measurement of the 3 gas dispersion parameters Bubble Size Measurement (mm) a - Mc. Gill Bubble Viewer (imaging) Gas Velocity (cm 3/cm 2/sec) b– Mc. Gill Jg Probe (differential pressure) Bubble Size and Gas Velocity c– Anglo Bubble Sizer (imaging and volumetric flow) Gas Holdup(%) d – Mc. Gill g Probe (conductivity) e – Cidra g Probe (ultrasonics) 9

Definitions of Various Flotation Hydrodynamic Properties Sauter Bubble Size D 32 (mm) Why Knowing the Jg, and CCC is Important Jg = 0. 5 Jg = 1. 0 Jg = 1. 5 Jg = 2. 0 4. 0 3. 0 2. 0 1. 0 Limiting Bubble Diameter (d. L) 6 CC C X 0. 5 12 CC C X 1. 0 18 CC C X 1. 5 24 Frother Concentration (ppm) CC C X 2. 0 6. J Sb =d g 32

Hydrodynamic Profiles for a spectrum of frothers Froth height (cm) versus gas holdup ɛg

Benefits of Hydrodynamic Profile 1. Rationalize products to be tested and used 2. Predicts dosage required for plant 3. Screen raw materials quickly and efficiently – lower costs 4. Improves frother optimization methodology 5. Provides information on current hydrodynamic condition in plant and laboratory 6. Reduces laboratory test work 7. Adds a functional specification to the chemical specification (froth created at CCC)

Flottec’s Frother Classification Guide THE BEST FROTHER BALANCES THE KINETICS (MASS RECOVERY) WITH THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF FROTH (LIQUID) VOLUME NEEDED TO SUPPORT THE MASS

“New” Frother Classification Based on Hydrodynamic Behavior and CCC 95 Values Non-Volatile Frothers

New Frother Optimization Methodology ▪ Based on Hydrodynamic Characterization curves and CCC 95 values ▪ Process begins by selecting a range of frothers (weak →strong) ▪ Frother’s are tested by adding at the CCC and then selecting the strength required to give best metallurgy and required froth stability. ▪ There are two sets of frother families considered, (non-volatile) glycol ether based and (volatile) alcohol based ▪ Blends and dual systems are considered when ore variability is a factor ▪ Frother selection cannot be performed in laboratory float tests

Recovery profile: general case A flat cell-by-cell recovery profile is optimal in the sense of maximizing the technical separation efficiency of the bank for a given target cumulative recovery; that is: RA 1 = RA 2 = … RAi = …. = RAN R = 1 – (1 – Ri)N M. Maldonado, R. Araya, J. Finch. Minerals Engineering, 24: 939 -943 (2011) 16

Where Are We Now? 1. Improved dual frother systems 2. System hydrodynamics (collectors have hydrodynamic properties too!) 3. Targeting particle recovery with frothers 4. Air/mass/mineral recovery profiling 5. Frothers for harsh water hydrodynamics 6. Frother optimization for new machines 7. New Sensors to control flotation based on new hydrodynamic control parameters.

Thank You