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Flotation of sulphide minerals 1990
154
BOOK RkVlEWS
properties and many variations is presented in such a clear manner. The sections on processing are covered m such a way that an obvious decision has been made to present each of the many processes in detail even through the same chemical and physical steps re-occur. This leads to repetition but it does mean that a section of a chapter on a particular processing plant can be read on its own. To a degree the same could be said of the metal reduction and refining sections but here the thermodynamic, chemical and phase relationships are skilfully dealt with so that the variations m the processes are more pronounced. As pointed out in the preface to the book, the only previous work that is similar was produced in 1958 by William Rostoker; the current book covers the 30 year gap in excellent detail. It is directed at the working metallurgist, chemical engineering, chemist or researcher. The reader must have a knowledge of the physical and chemical principles of the subject but no particular knowledge of vanadium is needed. It is a very useful contribution to the general field, filhng a niche for a very widely used element. It is a book that technical people working with the production or utilisation of vanadium alloys and materials must have readily available. Mike R. Thornber Wembley, W.A.
Flotation of Sulphide Minerals 1990. K.S.E. Forssberg (Editor). (Reprinted from Int. J. Miner Process., 33 (1-4). ) Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1991, ISBN 0-444-89377-6, viii+ 396 pp., Dfl. 285.00/US$163.00. This book is a collection of 27 papers presented at the second Workshop on flotation of sulfide minerals held in Lulefi, Sweden in June 1990. The success of this workshop, which was organized in connection with the research program "Chemistry of sulphide mineral processing" sponsored by the Swedish National Board for Technical Development, was based on a wide participation of researchers from Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Italy and USA. Eight of the papers are concerned with the work sponsored in the research program "Chemistry of sulphide mineral processing". The book provides a representative collection of the papers on up-to-date research performed in different laboratories around the world. Flotation of sulfide ores applies a solid-solid separation process in which the differences in the interfacial properties of mineral components in aqueous solution and air bubbles are used for selective concentration of the valuable components from the gangue minerals. In this process about 100 000 tones of ore is processed per day and concentrates are produced from low grade and complex ores at very low cost. The process is highly complex with many vari-
BOOK REVIEWS
15 5
ablcs and close relationships between them. Therefore, continuous improvemcnt of our knowledge about the processes taking place in flotationand finding a few key parameters which can suitably bc used to monitor and control the flotation process is the intensively sought goal of fundamental and application research being performed currently. It is particularly appropriate that the book covers a wide variety of chemistryof sulfide mineral processing from fundamental studies in the laboratory to industrial application. The papers address some problems currently faced by the mineral industry and provide the readers with examples of the attempts made by experienced investigators to solve these problems on the basis of the knowledge available from basic research and flotation practice. Practical and academic papcrs arc well balanced. Wide application of more sophisticated methods, especially spectroscopic and electrochemical ones which arc discussed in a number of papers, provides better understanding of the interactions of collectors, depressants and activators with the surface of minerals. Based on this knowledge new reagents and conditions of their application arc proposed. It is also shown that the rcagcnt molecular structure can bc designed according to practicalneeds. The papers posed also unresolved questions and research area needing attention. W e can learn from the book that to achlcvc good selectivitybeside the control of well-known parameters as pH, concentration of reagent and EH, other factors such as points where reagents arc added, order in which they are introduccd, conditioning time bctwccn operations or effect of grinding media are important. It is shown in some of the papers how important these factors arc for successful separation in the flotation processes. Environmental problems arc another issue discussed in the book. In order to eliminate environmentally unacceptable reagents such as cyanide and dichromate, the interaction of the reagents is discussed and newer, cheaper and environmentally safer alternatives are proposed. Another problem discussed is the emission of sulfur dioxide from smcltcrs, minimization of these emissions requires that the m a x i m u m possible amount of ganguc sulfide minerals should bc rejected in the flotation stage. A few papers present overviews on flotation problems from industrial and fundamental viewpoints. They underline the complexity and uniquc bchavior of particular ores in the flotation process. It seems that a priori assumption that each deposit is unique, at least to a certain extent prevents misunderstanding in the comparison of the results from different plants and also allows the use of the empirical and fundamental knowlcdgc more efficiently. Therefore, the good geological characterization of an ore, which is a marked omission in discussion on the complexity of the flotation process, plays a significant role. Thc papers discussing the effect of "impurities" on flotation behavior of minerals partly addrcsscs this problem. The most searching question a plant engineer could ask is: "Does the fun-
156
BOOK REVIEWS
damental research provide information for successful performance of the flotation process?" The book shows that this is possible at least to a certain degree. An example of scaling up a process from laboratory to pilot plants or commercial operations is given. The main objective of the book is to give a clear, but not comprehensive, description of current experience in dealing with flotation problems from a flotation chemistry viewpoint. This is not a book for the novice or the academic. To read the text, and gain from the experience discussed, one must have at least a working practical knowledge of flotation processes and laboratory measurements. However, as a text for discussion of flotation problems and strategic direction for further fundamental and apphed research, the book provides very valuable information. The book is well presented and generally easy to read, and is recommended as a very useful source of up-to-date information for the researcher and operating engineer. For its content and diversity of coverage of complex problems in froth flotation, the book will be a welcome addition to libraries. Jerzy Mielczarski Nancy, France
BOOK RkVlEWS
properties and many variations is presented in such a clear manner. The sections on processing are covered m such a way that an obvious decision has been made to present each of the many processes in detail even through the same chemical and physical steps re-occur. This leads to repetition but it does mean that a section of a chapter on a particular processing plant can be read on its own. To a degree the same could be said of the metal reduction and refining sections but here the thermodynamic, chemical and phase relationships are skilfully dealt with so that the variations m the processes are more pronounced. As pointed out in the preface to the book, the only previous work that is similar was produced in 1958 by William Rostoker; the current book covers the 30 year gap in excellent detail. It is directed at the working metallurgist, chemical engineering, chemist or researcher. The reader must have a knowledge of the physical and chemical principles of the subject but no particular knowledge of vanadium is needed. It is a very useful contribution to the general field, filhng a niche for a very widely used element. It is a book that technical people working with the production or utilisation of vanadium alloys and materials must have readily available. Mike R. Thornber Wembley, W.A.
Flotation of Sulphide Minerals 1990. K.S.E. Forssberg (Editor). (Reprinted from Int. J. Miner Process., 33 (1-4). ) Elsevier, Amsterdam, 1991, ISBN 0-444-89377-6, viii+ 396 pp., Dfl. 285.00/US$163.00. This book is a collection of 27 papers presented at the second Workshop on flotation of sulfide minerals held in Lulefi, Sweden in June 1990. The success of this workshop, which was organized in connection with the research program "Chemistry of sulphide mineral processing" sponsored by the Swedish National Board for Technical Development, was based on a wide participation of researchers from Australia, Canada, France, Finland, Germany, Italy and USA. Eight of the papers are concerned with the work sponsored in the research program "Chemistry of sulphide mineral processing". The book provides a representative collection of the papers on up-to-date research performed in different laboratories around the world. Flotation of sulfide ores applies a solid-solid separation process in which the differences in the interfacial properties of mineral components in aqueous solution and air bubbles are used for selective concentration of the valuable components from the gangue minerals. In this process about 100 000 tones of ore is processed per day and concentrates are produced from low grade and complex ores at very low cost. The process is highly complex with many vari-
BOOK REVIEWS
15 5
ablcs and close relationships between them. Therefore, continuous improvemcnt of our knowledge about the processes taking place in flotationand finding a few key parameters which can suitably bc used to monitor and control the flotation process is the intensively sought goal of fundamental and application research being performed currently. It is particularly appropriate that the book covers a wide variety of chemistryof sulfide mineral processing from fundamental studies in the laboratory to industrial application. The papers address some problems currently faced by the mineral industry and provide the readers with examples of the attempts made by experienced investigators to solve these problems on the basis of the knowledge available from basic research and flotation practice. Practical and academic papcrs arc well balanced. Wide application of more sophisticated methods, especially spectroscopic and electrochemical ones which arc discussed in a number of papers, provides better understanding of the interactions of collectors, depressants and activators with the surface of minerals. Based on this knowledge new reagents and conditions of their application arc proposed. It is also shown that the rcagcnt molecular structure can bc designed according to practicalneeds. The papers posed also unresolved questions and research area needing attention. W e can learn from the book that to achlcvc good selectivitybeside the control of well-known parameters as pH, concentration of reagent and EH, other factors such as points where reagents arc added, order in which they are introduccd, conditioning time bctwccn operations or effect of grinding media are important. It is shown in some of the papers how important these factors arc for successful separation in the flotation processes. Environmental problems arc another issue discussed in the book. In order to eliminate environmentally unacceptable reagents such as cyanide and dichromate, the interaction of the reagents is discussed and newer, cheaper and environmentally safer alternatives are proposed. Another problem discussed is the emission of sulfur dioxide from smcltcrs, minimization of these emissions requires that the m a x i m u m possible amount of ganguc sulfide minerals should bc rejected in the flotation stage. A few papers present overviews on flotation problems from industrial and fundamental viewpoints. They underline the complexity and uniquc bchavior of particular ores in the flotation process. It seems that a priori assumption that each deposit is unique, at least to a certain extent prevents misunderstanding in the comparison of the results from different plants and also allows the use of the empirical and fundamental knowlcdgc more efficiently. Therefore, the good geological characterization of an ore, which is a marked omission in discussion on the complexity of the flotation process, plays a significant role. Thc papers discussing the effect of "impurities" on flotation behavior of minerals partly addrcsscs this problem. The most searching question a plant engineer could ask is: "Does the fun-
156
BOOK REVIEWS
damental research provide information for successful performance of the flotation process?" The book shows that this is possible at least to a certain degree. An example of scaling up a process from laboratory to pilot plants or commercial operations is given. The main objective of the book is to give a clear, but not comprehensive, description of current experience in dealing with flotation problems from a flotation chemistry viewpoint. This is not a book for the novice or the academic. To read the text, and gain from the experience discussed, one must have at least a working practical knowledge of flotation processes and laboratory measurements. However, as a text for discussion of flotation problems and strategic direction for further fundamental and apphed research, the book provides very valuable information. The book is well presented and generally easy to read, and is recommended as a very useful source of up-to-date information for the researcher and operating engineer. For its content and diversity of coverage of complex problems in froth flotation, the book will be a welcome addition to libraries. Jerzy Mielczarski Nancy, France