Outotec (St. Petersburg):

Petrov A. V., Head of Department, alexsandr.petrov@outotec.com

Romanenko S. A., Leading Technologist, Sergey.Romanenko@outotec.com

Russkaya Mednaya Kompaniya (Russia):

Sufyanov F. S., Deputy General Director, Sufyanov@rambler.ru

Aktyubinsk Copper Company TOO (Republic of Kazakhstan):

Balmanova A. Zh., Chief Technologist of the Concentrating Plant No. 2,  Ainur.opi@mail.ru

The article considers practical introduction of a new approach to regulation of copper minerals and pyrite selective separation in lime medium based on pulp electrochemical potential control by means of molybdenum electrode. It is proved, that in contrast to the conventional approach to lime dosing control based on pH-metering or conductometry, pulp electro-chemical potential has a well-defined optimum, independent on load by feed or pulp circulating flows, nor on processed ore's properties. It is shown, that lime dosing control based on pulp electrochemical potential provides for better stabilization of final concentrate grade and minimum metal losses with tailings. However, achievement of limiting dressability curves is possible only as a result of combined approach to flotation process control, which includes froth products yield stabilization at optimum level in each flotation operation by means of FrothMaster video cameras. At present time flotation processing development is impossible without introduction of new means of automatic control over pulp electro-chemical characteristics, flotation products control in operations by means of Courier system, FrothMaster video cameras, mission-desig nated computer systems Proscon, providing for development of new principles for flotation objects modeling, as well as new flotation technologies.

1. Mashevskiy G. N., Petrov A. V., Romanenko S. V., Suyanov F. S., Balmanova A. Zh. Obogashchenie rud, 2012, No. 1, pp. 12–16.

2. Mashevskiy G. N., Petrov A. V., Moilanen Ya., Timpere Yu., Saloheimo K., Kemppinen H. Obogashchenie rud, 2010, No. 3, pp. 39–43.