Froth Flotation (Sulphide & Oxide)

Froth Flotation (Sulphide & Oxide)

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GOLD FLOTATION WITH HIGH GOLD, SULPHIDE AND ORGANIC CARBON GRADE (3 replies and 4 comments)

P
hydrometallurgictest
2 months ago
hydrometallurgictest 2 months ago

Good morning, everyone.

I work in a mine where the ore has a high gold content. About 80% of this gold is recovered in the gravimetric stage (ore with high GRG) and the overflow from the cycloning feeds the flotation circuit with the following characteristics:
Au content: 3-6g/t; Feed flotatation pulp density: 1.20-1.25g/cm³; Sulphur: 2-3%; Carbon: 2-3% and Total Organic Carbon 1.2-2.5%; pH: 8-8.5; 3 rougher cells, 3 scavenger cells and 1 cleaner.

We currently achieve recoveries of 80 to 90%, with a tailings content of around 0.3-0.8g/t of gold. We use potassium amyl xanthate as a collector and a foaming agent based on alcohol hexanol, pentanol and cyclohexanol. We add xanthate to the grinding feed, the flotation feed and the last rougher cell. We added the foaming agent to the flotation feed and to the first scavenger cell.

We are starting a pilot-scale test campaign to evaluate process parameters such as feed granulometry, pH, reagent dosage and other reagents.

Could you help me with what other reagents we could be using as well as suitable operating conditions for working with gold flotation with a high presence of sulphides and carbonaceous matter? We believe that we can obtain a recovery of over 90% with material with a high gold content.

Best regards.

J
Jorge
2 months ago
Jorge 2 months ago
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It is correct, PAX is a good primary collectors to recover gold. I suggest to evaluate the effect of MBT on gold recovery. Many times, a mixtures of two collectors are particularly effective to improve the gold recovery.

Other thing to consider is the application of nitrogen as flotation gas.

P
hydrometallurgictest
1 month ago

Hi Jorge, thank you very much for your feedback.

We will look for a supplier of MBT (mercaptobenzothiazole) nationally. Do you know if the addition of MBT could be harmful for a subsequent leaching stage with adsorption of gold on activated carbon?

Best Regards.

J
Jorge
1 month ago
Jorge 1 month ago
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MBT could be problem if you dosage is relatively high. There is an optimum point to use MBT.

 

P
hydrometallurgictest
1 month ago

Thanks for the answer. In the coming days we will be evaluating the dosage of the two collectors and the sparkling wine in our ore. Best Regards.

B
BEAUTY KISHOMBE
2 weeks ago
BEAUTY KISHOMBE 2 weeks ago
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Good morning everyone

Flotation of carbon and pyrite in sulphide

How can I reduce the flotation of carbon, pyrite ,insoles or non sulphide gangue in  chalcopyrite bearing ore predominantly, reciprocating to concentrate upgrade on regrind.

Well in most cases carbon, insoles etc. are more pronounced on on both cleaners and recleaners despite the use of depressants such as CMC and lime could you possibly advise any other means besides mass pull optimization ,slurry density build

 

J
Jorge
4 days ago

To reduce the carbon reported in the copper rougher concentrate, you should consider carbon pre-flotation ahead of the copper rougher flotation circuit. The addition of a weak frother like MIBC is good option. Don't add any collector.
The presence of pyrite in the rougher concentrate can be controlled by adding lime and setting up the pH at 10.5 to 11. If the copper ore contents a high level of pyrite, a small dosage of zinc sulphate or sodium cyanide can be helpful in the cleaner circuit.
Insoluble material has a different behaviour. If the flotation feed size is incorrect, the presence of insoluble material could be a problem. If the regrind circuit was not evaluated in the right way, the flotability or entrainment of insoluble material is a problem.

B
BEAUTY KISHOMBE
2 days ago

Thanks Jorge
will consider trying out dosing zinc sulphate or sodium cyanide on regrind as per recommendation.
best regards

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