Use of Organic Depressors for Selective Flotation of Copper -nickel and polymetallic ores

Abstract

An analysis of experimental data and research in the field of nonferrous ore beneficiation indicates that the conv-entional processing technologies currently in use have been developed for readily upgradable ores and do not ensure high performance values when treating refractors complex ores. Treatment of such ores results in production of lowgrade selective concentrates and creates serious problems relating to their further metallurgical proc-essing, resulting in high losses and additional expenses for detoxification of waste materials generated. One of the most promising approaches for solution of the problems relating to treatment of such types of ores is development of innovative reagents. A series of processing technologies have been developed in the Gintsvetmet Institute for selective flotation of copper-nickel, polymetallic and copper-zinc ores. They are based on the use of low-molecular weight organic depr-essors ensuring efficient adjustment of selective separ- ation of iron ,ferrous minerals and iron sulfides- In the process of copper-nickel ore flotation, efficient de-pression of pyrrhotite is ensuredresulting in better nickel and precious metals recoveries into nickel con-centrate with simultaneous improvement of concentrate grades. In the process of polymetallic ore flotation (including oxide ores) the use of organic depressors results in cut improvement of silver recovery into lead concentrate by about 5-8%. The rise of or,gcmic depressor for selective flotation of copper-zinc ores reduces the loss of zinc with copper concentrate. The results of the research conducted have been extensively used at a number of mines in Russia.