Enhancement of reagent regimes for complex ores flotation

Abstract

Pyrite copper-zinc (sulfide) and polymetallic ores in Russia are complex and rebellious mineral raw materials. The main processing technology for such ores is flotation. Enhancement of the flotation technology for such mineral raw materials is currently performed in several directions. The practice of copper-zinc ore processing proves that obtaining highquality zinc and pyrite concentrates is impossible without the use of various modifiers in the sphalerite and pyrite flotation process. Such reagents are copper (II), zinc and iron (II) sulfates in the alkali-calcic medium. Therefore, research was carried out to study floatation properties of sphalerite and pyrite in the alkali-calcic medium with addition of one of the indicated sulfates to the mineral flotation process. The effect of each of the sulfates of copper (II), zinc and iron (II) on the flotation properties of sphalerite and pyrite was studied during flotation of the mineral with butyl xanthate and dithiophosphate at pH equal to 8, 10, and 12. The aim of this work was to study the effect of the sulfhydryl collectors in presence of copper sulfates, zinc and iron for flotation of sphalerite and pyrite with the grain-size class of 0.074 + 0.044 mm from one of the Russian deposits.