ABSTRACT
Like all enrichment methods in mineral processing, the purpose of flotation is to obtain the highest enrichment performance. That is, obtaining the best recovery with an acceptable grade. This depends on several parameters and stability of the process at the predetermined optimal conditions. Deviation in one of the parameters, for example a change in pH or flow rate of inlet air,adversely affects flotation grade and recovery. In recent years, process control techniques and computers are being used to minimise parameter changes. In this study, some of the process parameters of a modified flotation column are controlled using a personal computer. The controlled parameters are: amount of intake water and solid percent, pH, amount of reactive, feed, tailing and washing water flow rates. The optimum values of the parameters are determined by conducting experiments. Then, control methods are applied to maintain the parameters at their specified values.
