IMPLEMENT Pyrite flotation tests with nitrogen
Pyrite flotation tests with nitrogen show the great possibility of implement the process in a polymetallic flotation circuit. The point to apply would be the last bank and the concentrate would be diverted to the final tails adding a by-pass in each bank.
Also, it is expected that part of residual chalcopyrite and galena can float in this nitrogen environment, resulting a cleaner feeding to the zinc circuit. Fig 5 shows the work suggested scheme.
Pyrite flotation with nitrogen would have as main reagent the collector (preferential, SIPX), the use of frother can be optional. About pH, can be used the residual pH (8.5-9.5). The zinc rougher flotation circuit would work in the usual way, adding lime for increasing pH (maybe between 10.0–10.5 because there is not much iron) copper sulphate, collector and frother in convenient dosage. Also, the gas flotation is air from the blowers.
When a gas is introduced into a pulp in grinding or preconditioning, a multi phase reaction occur between minerals, liquid and gas [7]. The reactions generally consist of many steps such as: gas diffusion, gas adsorption, gas reaction, detachment reactions, diffusion of products into liquid. Each step can facilitate the overall reaction.
BENEFITS of Nitrogen Flotation.
Saving in reagents. Pyrite depression in a conventional process requires lime, which is in relation with collector, frother and copper sulphate dosages. With nitrogen flotation is possible reduce lime consumption and part of the other reagents [8].
Zinc metallurgy can be improved. The stage of flotation pyrite acts as a pre-concentrate step. The feeding to zinc rougher circuit would be cleaner and it is possible obtain concentrates with commercial grade.
Zinc recovery increases with a more oxidizing environment, and nitrogen gas acts almost as a depressant for sphalerite in the flotation of the Pb-Zn ore [9]. It is possible either eliminate or reduce stocks of dirty zinc concentrates.
The zinc regrinding circuit would be relieved for two reasons. First, the isolation of a stream containing locked particles with kinetic of flotation very slow, and whose separation is very difficult, such as associations chalcopyrite-pyrite, pyrite-sphalerite, and maybe chalcopyrite-sphalerite. Second, the circulating load is going to be reduced.
If the circulating load is reduced, the consumption of balls in regrinding mills can be diminished.
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