PH adjustment in the flotation of sulphide minerals
AssigneeWMC Resources Ltd.
InventorGeoffrey David Senior
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention relates generally to a process for flotation of sulphide minerals where a flotation pulp is separated into a coarse stream and a fine stream, preferably containing particles coarser than about 30 micron and particles finer than about 30 micron, respectively. Typically, alkali and depressant are added to the coarse flotation stream only and acid and activator are added to the fine flotation stream only. During flotation of the fine stream, acid and/or activator may be added at the conditioning, cleaning, re-cleaning, cleaner-scavenging or third cleaning stage. During flotation of the coarse stream, alkali and/or depressant may be added at the conditioning or cleaning stage.
Claims21
A process for flotation of suiphide minerals, the process comprising the steps of:
- separating a flotation pulp containing the suiphide minerals into a coarse stream and a fine stream at a cut size in the range of 20 to 50 microns;
- treating the fine stream with acid and/or activator;
- treating the coarse stream with alkali and/or depressant;
- and
- floating the fine and coarse streams in separate flotation stages;
- whereby the benefits of said treatments are substantially realised during flotation without an unacceptable loss of grade and recovery.
An apparatus for flotation of sulphide minerals, the apparatus comprising:
- means for separating a flotation pulp containing the sulphide minerals into a coarse stream and a fine stream at a cut size in the range of 20 to 50 microns;
- an acid and activator source for treating the fine stream with acid and/or activator;
- an alkali and depressant source for treating the coarse stream with alkali and/or depressant whereby the benefits of said treatments can be substantially realised during flotation without an unacceptable loss of grade and recovery;
- and
- means for providing at least two separate flotation stages, one for flotation treatment of the fine stream and another for flotation treatment of the coarse stream.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.