Process mineralogy as a key factor affecting the flotation kinetics of copper sulfide minerals

作     者：Ataallah Bahrami Mirsaleh Mirmohammadi Yousef Ghorbani Fatemeh Kazemi Morteza Abdollahi Abolfazl Danesh 

作者机构：Department of Mining EngineeringUrmia University School of Mining EngineeringCollege of EngineeringUniversity of Tehran Department of CivilEnvironmental & Natural Resources EngineeringLule? University of Technology Complex of Copper Processing-Sungun 

出 版 物：《International Journal of Minerals,Metallurgy and Materials》 (矿物冶金与材料学报（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2019年第26卷第4期

页      面：430-439页

核心收录：

学科分类：0806[工学-冶金工程] 08[工学] 

主　　题：microscopic analysis flotation kinetics second order rectangular distribution model sulphide minerals 

摘      要：The aim of this study is to apply process mineralogy as a practical tool for further understanding and predicting the flotation kinetics of the copper sulfide minerals. The minerals composition and association, grain distribution, and liberation within the ore samples were analyzed in the feed, concentrate, and the tailings of the flotation processes with two pulp densities of 25 wt% and 30 wt%. The major copper-bearing minerals identified by microscopic analysis of the concentrate samples included chalcopyrite(56.2 wt%), chalcocite(29.1 wt%),covellite(6.4 wt%), and bornite(4.7 wt%). Pyrite was the main sulfide gangue mineral(3.6 wt%) in the concentrates. A 95% degree of liberation with d_(80) 80 μm was obtained for chalcopyrite as the main copper mineral in the ore sample. The recovery rate and the grade in the concentrates were enhanced with increasing chalcopyrite particle size. Chalcopyrite particles with a d_(80) of approximately 100 μm were recovered at the early stages of the flotation process. The kinetic studies showed that the kinetic second-order rectangular distribution model perfectly fit the flotation test data. Characterization of the kinetic parameters indicated that the optimum granulation distribution range for achieving a maximum flotation rate for chalcopyrite particles was between the sizes 50 and 55 μm.