This paper explores the enhancement of flotation kinetics for chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) particles through the application of ultrasound at a relatively high frequency (1.08 MHz). A novel laboratory-scale flow tubing system incorporating an ultrasonic piezoelectric tube, was designed and utilized for batch-mode flotation tests with external aeration and tailings recycling. The flotation performance was evaluated across a range of particle size fractions: < 38 μm, 38–45 μm, 45–53 μm, 53–75 μm, 75–106 μm, 106–150 μm, and 150–250 μm. The employment of ultrasound resulted in statistically significant improvements in flotation performance for finer particles (< 38 µm and 38–53 µm), with increases of up to 16 percentage points in final recovery (Rmax), 55 % in the flotation rate constant (k) and 58 % in the modified flotation rate constant (Rmax· k). Energy dissipation tests indicated that approximately one-quarter of the total energy input to the piezoelectric tube was dissipated as heat. These results demonstrate the potential of high-frequency ultrasound to selectively enhance the flotation of fine chalcopyrite particles.

中文翻译：

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压电管中黄铜矿的超声浮选：粒度影响和能量耗散

本文探讨了通过以相对较高的频率 （1.08 MHz） 应用超声来增强黄铜矿 （CuFeS2） 颗粒的浮选动力学。设计了一种新型实验室规模的流动管系统，该系统结合了超声波压电管，用于外部曝气和尾矿回收的批量模式浮选测试。在一系列粒度分数下评估浮选性能：< 38 μm、38-45 μm、45-53 μm、53-75 μm、75-106 μm、106-150 μm 和 150-250 μm。超声波的使用导致较细颗粒（< 38 μm 和 38-53 μm）的浮选性能得到统计学上的显着改善，最终回收率 （Rmax） 增加了 16 个百分点，浮选速率常数 （k） 提高了 55 %，改性浮选速率常数 （Rmax· k） 提高了 58 %。能量耗散测试表明，压电管输入的总能量中约有四分之一以热量的形式消散。这些结果表明，高频超声具有选择性增强细黄铜矿颗粒浮选的潜力。