US 2003/0231995 A1Published application

Use of ozone to increase the flotation efficiency of sulfide minerals

AssigneesAir Liquide Canada, Inc., L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme a Directoire et Conseil de Surveillance pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude

InventorsJavier Jara, Yawo Zuttah

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Abstract

The use of ozone during certain stages of metal separation by flotation degrades certain collectors that are absorbed on the particle surface, as well as the collectors and frothers in the liquid slurry. As a result, the mineral particle has a fresh surface and new chemical reagent(s) can be added in the subsequent flotation step(s). Also since ozone oxidizes the iron sulfide particles faster than the other mineral particles, depending upon the duration of treatment, the ozone concentration, and the kg O3/ton consumed by the treated ore, the surface of the iron sulfide particles may be partially or even totally oxidized, thus allowing better separation. As a consequence, the iron content is decreased, and the grade of the mineral value such as zinc, copper, and nickel increases. Also, sulfide emissions during heat treatment or further processing of the minerals are decreased due to decrease iron sulfide content.

Claims106

Dependent claims

A method of separating iron sulfide mineral particles from other mineral sulfide value particles containing zinc, nickel and/or copper by using ozone during certain flotation steps to at least degrade the frothers and collectors in the slurry liquid and/or remove the collectors adsorbed on the surface of said particles, comprising:

(a) obtaining a slurry comprised of less desirable iron sulfide mineral particles and more desirable mineral sulfide particles containing mineral values of zinc, nickel and/or copper, wherein said particles are of a preferred particle size;
(b) adjusting and/or maintaining the pH of said slurry to a desired level between about pH 8.0 and pH 12 at least one time;
(c) adding at least one collector to the slurry that adsorbs on at least a portion of said particles and/or adding at least one frother to said slurry;
(d) conditioning the slurry during and/or after said collector is added to obtain flotation conditions for at least some of said particles;
(e) obtaining a flotation concentrate stream and a flotation tailings stream, wherein said concentrate stream comprises the more desirable mineral sulfide value particles and wherein the tailings stream comprises the less desirable iron sulfide particles;
(f) treating the concentrate stream and/or the tailings stream with at least about 3.5%-15% ozone for a time and/or concentration sufficient to at least degrade the frother and collector in the liquid phase and/or to remove the collectors adsorbed on the surface of said particles;
(g) further treating or supplying the concentrate stream and/or the tailings stream with at least about 3.5%-15% ozone for a time and/or concentration sufficient to oxidize the surface of iron sulfide minerals faster than the surface of the other more desired sulfide minerals;
(h) agitating the concentrate and/or tailings stream during at least step (f);
and
(i) further separating the more desired mineral sulfide particles from the less desired iron sulfate particles in the concentrate and/or tailings stream.

7 more elements

A method for separating ore material comprising gangue, iron sulfide minerals, and other minerals containing mineral values of at least zinc, nickel and/or copper at least some of which are in sulfide form, comprising:

(a) obtaining ore particles of a preferred size and/or grounding ore materials to a preferred particle size;
(b) forming a slurry comprised of at least water, less desirable iron sulfide mineral particles, gangue, and more desirable mineral particles containing mineral values of zinc, nickel and/or copper, at least some of which are in sulfide form;
(c) adjusting and/or maintaining the pH of said slurry to a desired level between about pH 8.0 and pH 12 at least one time;
(d) adding at least one collector to the slurry and/or at least one frother to said slurry;
(e) raising and/or maintaining the potential of the slurry to a level sufficient for the collector to adsorb onto at least the sulfide particles;
(d) conditioning the slurry to obtain flotation conditions for at least some of said particles;
(e) obtaining a flotation concentrate stream and a flotation tailings stream, wherein said concentrate stream comprises the more desirable mineral particles and wherein the tailings stream comprises the less desirable iron sulfide particles and gangue;
(f) treating the concentrate stream and/or the tailings stream with at least about 3.5%-15% ozone for a time and/or concentration sufficient to at least degrade the frother and collector in the liquid phase and/or to remove the collectors adsorbed on the surface of said particles;
(g) agitating the concentrate and/or tailings stream during at least step (f);
and
(h) further separating the more desired mineral particles from the less desired iron particles in the concentrate and/or tailings stream.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.