Metering chemical reagents in rare mineral recovery at British Fluorspar

Displacement pumps

Twenty one positive displacement pumps have been installed at British Fluorspar Ltd, the UK’s sole fluorspar producer. The pumps, which include 12 Qdos metering pumps, have all been set to work on vital flotation duties.

• 21 Watson-Marlow pumps in mineral recovery flotation process
• Chemical reagents metered include methyl isobutyl carbinol, sodium isopropyl xanthate and sodium carbonate

The emphasis on the Qdos 30 range reflects a design which is aimed specifically at chemical metering.

These high performance pumps accurately dose chemicals without the need for any valves or ancillary equipment, keeping costs to an absolute minimum—in fact, the total cost of ownership is less than that of a typical solenoid or stepper-driven diaphragm pump.

All 21 Watson-Marlow pumps have been deployed successfully in the flotation process at British Fluorspar. Reagents are pumped up from mixing tanks into the head tank, from where they follow plastic pipes down into flotation.

The chemical reagents handled by the pumps include methyl isobutyl carbinol, sodium isopropyl xanthate, sodium carbonate, sodium sulphide, caustic soda pearl and sodium silicate. In total, British Fluorspar produces 60,000 tonnes of fluorite ore every year, which is extracted from 300,000 tonnes of crude product.

Qdos metering pump