*Article* **Multidimensional Optimization of the Copper Flotation in a Jameson Cell by Means of Taxonomic Methods**

**Tomasz Niedoba 1,\* , Paulina Pi˛eta <sup>2</sup> , Agnieszka Surowiak <sup>1</sup> and Oktay ¸Sahbaz <sup>3</sup>**

	- 43100 Kütahya, Turkey; oktay.sahbaz@dpu.edu.tr

**Abstract:** Three factors were measured in the flotation process of copper ore: the copper grade in a concentrate (β), the copper grade in tailings (ϑ), and the recovery of copper in a concentrate (ε). The experiment was conducted by means of a Jameson cell. The factors influencing the quality of the process were the particle size (*d*), the flotation time (*t*), the type of collector (*k*), and the dosage of the collector (*s*). The considered vector function is then (β(*d*, *t*, *k*, *s*), ϑ(*d*, *t*, *k*, *s*), ε(*d*, *t*, *k*, *s*)). In this work, the optimization was based on determining the values of the adjustable factors (*d*, *t*, *k*, *s*). The goal was to obtain the possibly highest values of the functions β and ε (maximum) with the possibly lowest values of the function ϑ (minimum). To this end, taxonomic methods were applied. Thanks to the applied method, the optimum—with the adopted assumptions—was found. The presented methodology can be successfully applied in the search for the optima in a variety of technological processes.

**Keywords:** flotation; copper ore; lithology; flotation agents; particle size distribution; taxonomic methods
