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Resource efficiency: Coarser particle recovery enables mill energy savings by up to 35%

FLS coarseAIR™ technology increases the particle size limitations of conventional flotation. This enables the mill to operate at a coarser grind, which results in significant energy savings per tonne of ROM material processed. With coarser particle recovery reducing mill workload, increased plant throughput can be achieved without additional grinding circuit investment.

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Rougher tailings often contain coarse minerals lost by conventional flotation processes. coarseAIR cells scavenge these valuable materials from tailings, enhancing recovery rates.

FLS coarseAIR coarse particle flotation can be installed upstream of rougher flotation to process the coarser fraction of material usually processed in traditional flotation. It can also be used for tailings scavenger/retreatment applications.

coarseAIR Flotation Cells are suitable for processing base and precious metals,
including copper, molybdenum, gold, silver, lead, and zinc, and industrial minerals,
such as phosphate, potash, feldspar and iron ore. 

 

 

Key benefits of coarseAIR

  • Improve overall recovery

    The coarseAIR Flotation Cell captures coarse particles typically lost in conventional flotation circuits (up to 850 um in sulfide minerals and >1mm in industrial minerals), raising overall plant recovery rates.

  • Increase plant throughput

    By capturing coarser particles than traditional flotation systems, coarseAIR Flotation Cells reduce milling requirements. This effectively increases plant throughput without costly investment in the grinding circuit.

  • Reduce energy consumption

    A coarse grind can result in energy savings of up to 35%, depending on the specific ore and process conditions, reducing operating costs and potentially lowering the grinding circuit’s carbon footprint.

FLS offers lab testing and pilot trials 

Lab testing is available through FLS and independent testing operations. Modular pilot units are offered that can be deployed at mine sites for testing. These units easily integrate into existing operations, requiring only a small stream of rougher feed tailings. 

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