Introduction to Flotation of Nonferrous Metal

In the nature,  sulfide ores at the upper part of the nonferrous metal deposit after long term  weathering (such as the role of oxygen and ions in the air or water) will form  the Oxidized ore zone that is to say the Oxide mineral or mineral containing  oxygen. The content of the oxidized ore differs with the oxidation depth. The  ore can be divided into three types that are Oxide ore (commonly known as oxide  ore), sulfide ore (commonly known as sulfide ore), mixed ore (commonly known as  mixed ore) by the ore oxidation rate which means the mass fraction of a metal  in the presence of an oxide mineral and containing mineral oxygen. Generally  speaking, the mineral with higher oxidation rate will have more loose structure  and more content of mud. Thus the difficulty of beneficiation will be larger.

The separation of copper sulphide minerals  and iron sulfide minerals can also be called as the separation of copper and  sulfur. Copper sulfur separation scheme is generally preferred flotation, mixed  flotation or preferential-mixing flotation process, among which the copper is  firstly floated by the preferred flotation. The reagent is use in it is as  followings: pyrite inhibitors are general lime in the environment of pH = 12 ~  11 as well as the collector of sulfide copper are usual xanthate or xanthate  and aerofloat. Mixed flotation is generally carried out in a neutral medium.  Adding the lime to improve the PH value of the slurry to inhibit the pyrite in  separating the concentration of the copper and sulfide in the process of the  mixed flotation. Sphalerite is a kind of sulfide minerals which is difficult to  float. The floatability will differs with the content of the impurity. Copper  sulfate is a common activation in the flotation process of sphalerite. And zinc  sulfate, ferrous sulfate, sulfite, sodium sulfide, thiosulfate or sulfur  dioxide gas all can inhibit the flotation of Marmatite. There are two kinds of ways  for the flotation of copper and nickel which are preferred flotation and mixed  flotation. The preferred flotation is suitable for such ores as the content of  copper is higher then nickel and as mineral symbiotic relation is not too  complex. The copper and the nickel concentrate can be got conveniently in the  preferred flotation. But for the nickel ore is seriously inhibited which leads  to the low recovery rate of the nickle. So this method should not be used  usually.

The Mine Design and Research Institute of Xinhai Mining Equipment and  Technology Incorporation can design reasonable beneficiation process and  optimize the existing beneficiation process. Xinhai is your most reasonable  partner.

Tags:Copper flotation, Flotation of Nonferrous Metal

From:Xinhai Mining Machinery Company