Abstract
Having a representative sample is the very first step to monitor performance in any process plant; in mineral processing plants it is one of the key components for process optimization and metallurgical accounting. On-stream sampling enables operations to obtain more insights into their process by taking automatic samples from different points in the process on a regular basis thus minimizing human errors in manual sampling, providing more data points for process control, and reducing labor and operation costs. However, since samples are used for various metallurgical assessments, selection of suitable samplers, design criteria, and installation considerations would have major impacts on the overall plant performance. In this paper, we briefly review the basics and standards used to design on-stream slurry sampling in modern mineral processing operations. Common practices for online sampling including sampler types, design and layout considerations, equipment selection, and good installation practices will be discussed with real-life examples.