Abstract:

In this study, circularity of particles from various streams (such as feed and concentrates) of sphalerite beneficiation by column flotation with and without ultrasonic pre-treatment were measured by a recent technique; Dynamic image analysis (DIA) by counting more than 20 000 particles for each population. Then the statistical significance of mean circularity values was tested by using one way ANOVA (analysis of variance) and post hoc Tukey test. ANOVA results showed that circularity values of each particle from these product streams of column flotation with and without ultrasonic pre-treatment was statistically different from each other at the confidence level of 95%. DIA results showed that the highest circularity value was obtained in the concentrate of column flotation with ultrasonic           pre-treatment which gives the highest zinc grade and recovery indicating that particle circularity has small but positive effect on the sphalerite column flotation beneficiation with ultrasonic pre-treatment. 

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