Statistical evaluation of the effect of conditioning time and slurry concentration on the flotation performance of siliceous phosphate

Conditioning of flotation feed is an important prerequisite for efficient flotation. This process depends on parameters such as conditioning time, slurry concentration and slurry pH. The objective of this paper is to optimize the conditioning process for the flotation feed. This was achieved by first conducting preliminary experiments at constant slurry pH to determine the significant ranges of slurry concentration and conditioning time. Then, factorial experimental design (3(2) experiments) was used to investigate the significance of the above parameters and their interactions on flotation recovery, and grade. Statistical analyses using A NOVA approach showed that flotation recovery (R) and concentrate grade (g) were affected by feed conditioning. It was found that concentrate grade was linearly proportional to the slurry concentration. on and conditioning time. while flotation recovery was exponentially proportional to the conditioning parameters. A contour plot of the flotation response (recovery and grade) against conditioning parameters showed that the optimum operating parameters for flotation feed conditioning was a conditioning time of 1.5 to 2 minutes and a slurry concentration of 55% to 60%.