Application of Knelson Concentrator for Beneficiation of Copper–Cobalt Ore Tailings

ABSTRACT

The beneficiation of high talc-containing copper–cobalt flotation tailings was studied by centrifugal gravity concentration. It was found that copper and cobalt minerals were finely disseminated in the gangue matrix so that conventional gravity concentration using spirals and shaking tables would be ineffective. The actual experimental test work was performed using the Knelson gravity concentrator and the results were transposed to industrial scale by simulating several beneficiation scenarios. The results indicated that integration of Knelson concentrators in the concentration circuit to treat the flotation tailings would significantly improve copper and cobalt recoveries from 65.00% to 86.09% and 67.00% to 86.96%, respectively.

KEYWORDS:

• Gravity separation
• Knelson concentrator
• copper–cobalt ore
• froth flotation
• tailings reprocessing

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge the support of NCK in providing them with the opportunity to complete this work and allowing it to be published.

Disclosure statement

The authors report no conflicts of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by The University of Mons, The Belgian Technical Cooperation, and The University Cooperation for Development.