Froth Flotation (Sulphide & Oxide)

Froth Flotation (Sulphide & Oxide)

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froth flotation batch test (17 replies)

A
Amare Goitom
7 years ago
Amare Goitom 7 years ago

currently, batch rougher flotation test is ongoing in our metallurgical lab. the test is aimed to separate sulfide ore Cu and Zn in their circuit, but in the zinc rougher circuit normally, we observe grey, bit shiny and oily surface which does not let good froth flotation. what do you think is that and how can we avoid it?

Thanks and regards

Amare

Paul Morrow
7 years ago
Paul Morrow 7 years ago

Hello Amare, any photos/videos? Your copper flotation worked well? What reagents are you using (full list)? pH conditions?

P
max skinner
7 years ago
max skinner 7 years ago

Yes like Paul says and are you separating zinc and copper into two concentrates or making one bulk concentrate?

A
Amare Goitom
7 years ago
Amare Goitom 7 years ago

Hello paul,

I couldn't attach the photos but yes, copper circuit works well. the reagents are;

in mill we add cyanide and zinc sulphate, in the cell we add  PAX as collector and MIBC as frother. and in Zinc circuit we add copper sulphate as sphalerite activator. copper circuit pH 11.5, in Zinc circuit pH 11 with P80 of 75mic.

thanks, All

Bob Mathias
7 years ago
Bob Mathias 7 years ago

What grade and recoveries are you getting in each circuit? What are your head grade assays?

Paul Morrow
7 years ago
Paul Morrow 7 years ago

copper circuit pH 11.5, in Zinc circuit pH 11: really?

A
Amare Goitom
7 years ago
Amare Goitom 7 years ago

paul,

Thanks for your interest about the pH, yes it is based company scheme. Can you give me some sugestion to my test work based pH also. 

Paul Morrow
7 years ago
Paul Morrow 7 years ago

Please tell us what grade and recoveries are you getting in each circuit? What are your head grade assays?

A
Amare Goitom
7 years ago
Amare Goitom 7 years ago

head grade  for Cu 1.2 and for Zn 7.46 and in Batch test , copper con grade 18% and recovery 72% and 50%  zinc is recovered in copper circuit. in Zn circuit both recovery and con grade reads 45% to 50s.

David
7 years ago
David 7 years ago

Amare, you should run your copper rougher circuit at 9.5-10 pH. Your Cu cleaners at 10-10.5

The Zinc rougher/cleaner pH 11.5 

Do you have any copper oxide in this ore?

How much iron %Fe in the feed?

What are the various dosages g/t of each reagents you are adding? I think your chemistry is off-balance...

Are you regrinding anywhere?

You can email me photos + your test flowsheet/conditions at FORUMS@911....

Here is a classic Cu/Zn plant circuit:

OR 

AND

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J
Jorge
7 years ago
Jorge 7 years ago

Based on your comments, I think you have to perform a special testing program in the copper flotation circuit. Once you found the best parameters, you can be focused in the zinc flotation circuit. I am going to list some ideas.

- It is important the lead content. (do you know/did you assay)?

- The grey surface in the zinc rougher flotation circuit could be slimes of chalcopyrite and/or galena.

- It is important o know the content of soluble copper in the ore. For example, if the soluble copper content is 0.15%, sphalerite can be activated easily during copper flotation.

- If the soluble copper content is a problem, the, it is important to evaluate the effect of depressors. In order to do it, several combinations of zinc sulphate and sodium cyanide should be tested. MBS can be considered. 

- The presence of high levels of pyrite is important to know. At least the total iron content from iron sulphides. Alternatively, you can take a sample and use a vanning dish to assess the pyrite content.

- PAX is a strong collector, try to evaluate other collector such as SIPX or A3418. Kinetics tests should be performed to evaluate the effect of the collector on the copper recovery and zInc displacement.

- The pH in the rougher flotation circuit should be evaluated. For example, 8.0, 8.5, 9.0, 9.5 and 10.0

- Results from kinetics tests should give you the optimum conditions for the copper rougher flotation circuit.

A
Amare Goitom
7 years ago
Amare Goitom 7 years ago

hello all, here am attaching the test conditions with a current head assay, not much oxides from EDTA test assay results.

one thing I will follow tests @ different pH, I agree! can you please

  1. tell me the effect of Pb to the 
  2. limitation of pyrite in relation to pH
  3. evaluate my test conditions if it needs improvement, as I'm less experienced. 
  4. what other options can we use to prepare reagent test conditions rather than based head assay, coz sometimes the head assay gives huge difference and PAX collects everything.

all appreciated!

Paul Morrow
7 years ago
Paul Morrow 7 years ago

Give us a complete element assay sheet. How much Pb and Fe you have in feed + complete test result assays & metal balance.

What size/volume flotation cell are you using? How many kilos of samples per batch test?

David
7 years ago
David 7 years ago

First tip/trick is do not do lab tests with 1% PAX. It is too strong for control. Use 0.1%.

You say PAX collects everything. No kidding! Assuming you are working on a 1 kilo charge, you are using 77 g/t PAX in Cu float and 67 g/t PAX in Zn float.  That is crazy.  Try 1/5 of that to start.

What and review https://www.911metallurgist.com/blog/floatation for technique. 

Knowing what you have to float is the 1st thing to know. We need assays on Cu, Zn, Pb, Fe minimum and S is very useful.

Here are just examples test conditions for Cu/Zn separation for a similar head grade to yours. BUT until you give us a full assay scan... we're just guessing.  

OR

About pH: See the floatability of Pb Cu Zn Fe at various pH.

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J
Jorge
7 years ago
Jorge 7 years ago
1 like by David

To evaluate the copper rougher flotation circuit, you could consider the following recipe to perform a kinetics test:

  • - Zinc sulphate at 10% w/w, 300 g/t (grinding); 100 g/t (conditioning)
  • - Sodium cyanide at 1% w/w, 30 g/t (grinding); 10 g/t (conditioning)
  • - SIPX at 1% w/w, 30 g/t (conditioning)
  • - Conditioning time, 3 minutes
  • - MIBC, 3 drops (it depends on the froth appearance)
  • - pH, 8 (add lime to regulate the pH)
  • - Froth: 0.5 , 1.0, 2.0, 3.0, 5.0, 8.0, 10.0 minutes
  • - K80, 100 µm

 When you have the results, you can make some changes.

David
7 years ago
David 7 years ago

Amare,

you still have not stated how much copper oxide and/or secondary coppers (bornite/covellite) you have in this sample. Those are what will activate sphalerite. By experimenting, you therefore need to match the ZnSO4 & NaCN dosage to the amount of secondary coppers you have activating the zinc. The ZnSO4-CN will complex the Cu activators and help prevent zinc collection. This is irrelevant of the the Zinc head in the feed.

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A
Amare Goitom
7 years ago
Amare Goitom 7 years ago

Thanks David and all

yes, I realized that the ore I have has pre-activated sphalerite, but as I changed the pH ranges, and doubled the ZnSO4 and NaCN  the recovery shows a positive graph with good separation in Zn and Cu @ pH 8& 9.but it also killing my precious metals, Au, Ag.

 

(unknown)
7 years ago
(unknown) 7 years ago

A,

post your test results AND test conditions if you are serious about us helping you.

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