A preliminary study of three-phase column flotation process using electrical capacitance volume tomography(ECVT)has been conducted.The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of ECVT method as a monitoring system by correlating the relative permittivity distribution(or three-dimensional image)with metallurgical performance(recovery of the process).Experiments were performed in a laboratory-scale flotation column with ECVT sensor embedded outside the pipe wall on the collection zone.The feed used was a synthetic ore consisting of sphalerite and silica with the purity of 99%.Process parameter used was air flow rate ranging from 2-4 l/m which each process was conducted for 10 minutes.The results showed that the ECVT method could observe the dynamic process of flotation, specifically in monitoring a feeding process and a separation process.They were indicated by increased and decreased relative permittivity distributions respectively.Relative permittivity signal and metallurgical performance have a good correlation and showed a positive correlation.These results show a prospect of ECVT method as the monitoring system in the flotation process, but further works need to be done for this monitoring system.
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