Abstract

It seeks to determine the percentage gold recovery by varying the particle size,

water pressure and gravity in the gravity concentration centrifuged through

experimental tests preconcentration in the concentrator centrifugal ICON i150 to

improve conventional flotation process Aurífera and better results and returns. The

number of experiments consisted of 24 representative samples of the sulphide ore 1kg

each, the sample size for the experiment is based on the 23 factorial design with 3

replication with two levels of particle size (74; 150) um , water pressure (2; 6) PSI and

gravity (100; 300) G. The results show that: particle size 74 to 150 .mu.m gold recovery

decreases 81.25 and 75.67% respectively; water pressure of 2 to 6 PSI gold recovery

decreases in 80.25 and 76.67% respectively and gravity of 100 to 300 G gold recovery

increased by 76.17 and 80.75% respectively. We conclude that as the particle size and

the water pressure decreases and the force of gravity then increasing the degree of

recovery of gold increases.

Keywords: particle size, water pressure, gravity, gold recovery, sulphide ore,

preconcentration, centrifugal concentrator, gold flotation.