AU744935B2 - Flotation separation of valuable minerals - Google Patents
Flotation separation of valuable minerals Download PDFInfo
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- AU744935B2 AU744935B2 AU29063/99A AU2906399A AU744935B2 AU 744935 B2 AU744935 B2 AU 744935B2 AU 29063/99 A AU29063/99 A AU 29063/99A AU 2906399 A AU2906399 A AU 2906399A AU 744935 B2 AU744935 B2 AU 744935B2
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- flotation
- conditioning
- valuable
- minerals
- gas
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- 238000005188 flotation Methods 0.000 title claims description 70
- 229910052500 inorganic mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 title claims description 50
- 239000011707 mineral Substances 0.000 title claims description 50
- 238000000926 separation method Methods 0.000 title claims description 9
- 230000003750 conditioning effect Effects 0.000 claims description 51
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 claims description 39
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 claims description 23
- QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N atomic oxygen Chemical compound [O] QVGXLLKOCUKJST-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000001301 oxygen Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 229910052760 oxygen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000002002 slurry Substances 0.000 claims description 19
- 239000003153 chemical reaction reagent Substances 0.000 claims description 17
- 239000012141 concentrate Substances 0.000 claims description 15
- UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulphide Chemical compound [S-2] UCKMPCXJQFINFW-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 11
- 238000011084 recovery Methods 0.000 claims description 9
- IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N Atomic nitrogen Chemical compound N#N IJGRMHOSHXDMSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- RAHZWNYVWXNFOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulphur dioxide Chemical compound O=S=O RAHZWNYVWXNFOC-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 8
- 230000001590 oxidative effect Effects 0.000 claims description 7
- 239000003795 chemical substances by application Substances 0.000 claims description 6
- GEHJYWRUCIMESM-UHFFFAOYSA-L sodium sulfite Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]S([O-])=O GEHJYWRUCIMESM-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 6
- -1 -12- sodium sulphide Chemical compound 0.000 claims description 5
- HYHCSLBZRBJJCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M sodium hydrosulfide Chemical compound [Na+].[SH-] HYHCSLBZRBJJCH-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 5
- XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N Argon Chemical compound [Ar] XKRFYHLGVUSROY-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon dioxide Chemical compound O=C=O CURLTUGMZLYLDI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ozone Chemical compound [O-][O+]=O CBENFWSGALASAD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 4
- DWAQJAXMDSEUJJ-UHFFFAOYSA-M Sodium bisulfite Chemical compound [Na+].OS([O-])=O DWAQJAXMDSEUJJ-UHFFFAOYSA-M 0.000 claims description 4
- 229910052757 nitrogen Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 4
- 239000004289 sodium hydrogen sulphite Substances 0.000 claims description 4
- 235000010267 sodium hydrogen sulphite Nutrition 0.000 claims description 4
- 235000010269 sulphur dioxide Nutrition 0.000 claims description 4
- 235000010265 sodium sulphite Nutrition 0.000 claims description 3
- RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N Dihydrogen sulfide Chemical compound S RWSOTUBLDIXVET-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- ZGSDJMADBJCNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N [S-][NH3+] Chemical compound [S-][NH3+] ZGSDJMADBJCNPN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- HIVLDXAAFGCOFU-UHFFFAOYSA-N ammonium hydrosulfide Chemical compound [NH4+].[SH-] HIVLDXAAFGCOFU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910052786 argon Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000001569 carbon dioxide Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 229910002092 carbon dioxide Inorganic materials 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000000203 mixture Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- HRZFUMHJMZEROT-UHFFFAOYSA-L sodium disulfite Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[O-]S(=O)S([O-])(=O)=O HRZFUMHJMZEROT-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004296 sodium metabisulphite Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 235000010262 sodium metabisulphite Nutrition 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000003643 water by type Substances 0.000 claims description 2
- 239000004291 sulphur dioxide Substances 0.000 claims 2
- 239000003570 air Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 239000012080 ambient air Substances 0.000 claims 1
- 150000003839 salts Chemical class 0.000 claims 1
- RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N Copper Chemical compound [Cu] RYGMFSIKBFXOCR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 15
- 229910052802 copper Inorganic materials 0.000 description 15
- 239000010949 copper Substances 0.000 description 15
- 238000012360 testing method Methods 0.000 description 11
- 230000001143 conditioned effect Effects 0.000 description 8
- 230000033116 oxidation-reduction process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000007254 oxidation reaction Methods 0.000 description 4
- 230000003647 oxidation Effects 0.000 description 3
- XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N Iron Chemical compound [Fe] XEEYBQQBJWHFJM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N Nickel Chemical compound [Ni] PXHVJJICTQNCMI-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N Sulfur Chemical compound [S] NINIDFKCEFEMDL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 239000005864 Sulphur Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000004913 activation Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000003556 assay Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000010924 continuous production Methods 0.000 description 2
- 230000002939 deleterious effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000003801 milling Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000007787 solid Substances 0.000 description 2
- XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N water Substances O XLYOFNOQVPJJNP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 229910001209 Low-carbon steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N Molybdenum Chemical compound [Mo] ZOKXTWBITQBERF-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc Chemical compound [Zn] HCHKCACWOHOZIP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N Zinc monoxide Chemical compound [Zn]=O XLOMVQKBTHCTTD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 239000012190 activator Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000010923 batch production Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052947 chalcocite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910001779 copper mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- BERDEBHAJNAUOM-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper(I) oxide Inorganic materials [Cu]O[Cu] BERDEBHAJNAUOM-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- PTVDYARBVCBHSL-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Cu] PTVDYARBVCBHSL-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- LBJNMUFDOHXDFG-UHFFFAOYSA-N copper;hydrate Chemical compound O.[Cu].[Cu] LBJNMUFDOHXDFG-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 230000009977 dual effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- 239000011261 inert gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052742 iron Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011133 lead Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 1
- 150000002739 metals Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 229910052750 molybdenum Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011733 molybdenum Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052759 nickel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052592 oxide mineral Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229910052954 pentlandite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 229920001021 polysulfide Polymers 0.000 description 1
- 230000001737 promoting effect Effects 0.000 description 1
- NIFIFKQPDTWWGU-UHFFFAOYSA-N pyrite Chemical compound [Fe+2].[S-][S-] NIFIFKQPDTWWGU-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910052683 pyrite Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011028 pyrite Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910052709 silver Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000004332 silver Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000004513 sizing Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000011734 sodium Substances 0.000 description 1
- GRVFOGOEDUUMBP-UHFFFAOYSA-N sodium sulfide (anhydrous) Chemical compound [Na+].[Na+].[S-2] GRVFOGOEDUUMBP-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 1
- PGWMQVQLSMAHHO-UHFFFAOYSA-N sulfanylidenesilver Chemical compound [Ag]=S PGWMQVQLSMAHHO-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 1
- 150000004763 sulfides Chemical class 0.000 description 1
- LSNNMFCWUKXFEE-UHFFFAOYSA-L sulfite Chemical compound [O-]S([O-])=O LSNNMFCWUKXFEE-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- DHCDFWKWKRSZHF-UHFFFAOYSA-L thiosulfate(2-) Chemical compound [O-]S([S-])(=O)=O DHCDFWKWKRSZHF-UHFFFAOYSA-L 0.000 description 1
- 229910052725 zinc Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
- 239000011701 zinc Substances 0.000 description 1
- 229910000010 zinc carbonate Inorganic materials 0.000 description 1
Landscapes
- Manufacture And Refinement Of Metals (AREA)
Description
(I
-1-
AUSTRALIA
PATENTS ACT 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT V,00.
*0 0 9 .0 :0.40.
0
ORIGINAL
Name of Applicant/s: Actual Inventor/s: Address for Service: Invention Title: BOC Gases Australia Limited David William Clark BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS MARGARET STREET SYDNEY NSW 2000 'FLOTATION SEPARATION OF VALUABLE MINERALS' Details of Associated Provisional Application No. PP3734 dated 27 May, 1998.
The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me/us:- File: 22139.00 -2- TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to physical separation of minerals and in particular to the separation of minerals of different mineralogical character.
BACKGROUND ART Valuable minerals in ores are commonly present as more than one type of mineral.
The types of minerals can range from sulphides eg pyrite, chalcocite, pentlandite etc to oxide such as cuprite, tenorite, smithsonite, zincite.
Each of these minerals can exhibit quite different flotabilities. If one applies a particular flotation process to such a mixed mineral ore one may obtain partial recovery of 10 the valuable minerals but a proportion of the valuable mineral or indeed another valuable mineral may be lost. The prior art does not adequately address or provide a process for recovery of the various types of valuable minerals in a mixed mineral ore.
The present invention seeks to overcome at least some of the problems of the prior art or at least provide a commercial alternative thereto.
15 DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION S* In a first aspect, the present invention provides a process for recovery of valuable minerals of different mineralogical character from an ore wherein a milled slurry or flotation concentrate is subjected to a first conditioning step followed by first flotation step to recover a valuable mineral in the slurry or concentrate is recovered, a tailings stream from the first flotation step being subjected to a second conditioning step followed by a second flotation step to recover any valuable mineral in the tailings stream, wherein 1 one of the conditioning steps includes conditioning the slurry or flotation concentrate with an oxidising gas containing a gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen and ozone, and the other of the conditioning steps includes conditioning the slurry or flotation concentrate with a substantially non-oxidising gas and an oxidisable surface modifying reagent.
In a preferred embodiment, the oxidative conditioning step is conducted first, followed by flotation, and the conditioning step with an inert or non-oxidising gas is conducted second, followed by the appropriate flotation step.
The present invention is suitable for an ore containing a mixture of valuable minerals including sulphidic minerals or non-sulphidic and sulphidic minerals, and non-valuable sulphidic minerals and non-valuable "gangue" material.
Suitable oxidising gases include oxygen, oxygen enriched air and/or ozone. Suitable inert of non-oxidising gases include nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide or admixtures thereof.
*°ooo 0 "Which oxidisable surface modifying reagents are used will depend on the desired mineral separation and can be chosen as appropriate from either the group containing sodium hydrosulphide, sodium sulphide, hydrogen sulphide, ammonium sulphide, ammonium hydrosulphide or the group containing sulfoxy agents including sodium sulphite, sodium hydrogen sulphite, sodium metabisulphite, sodium bisulphite, sulfur dioxide gas or solution, sulphite agents, K, Ca, NH4 salts thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a flow chart of a flotation process according to an embodiment of the present invention.
-4- BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE IVENTION As shown in figure 1 a milled reagentised slurry, or concentrate from a previous flotation step 10 is fed to a first conditioning step 20 whereby it is conditioned with oxygen to promote the flotation of valuable sulphide minerals. The conditioned slurry 25 is then transferred to subsequent flotation step 30 where flotation is preferably carried out with air as the flotation gas. The concentrate 35 leaving flotation step 30 includes a large proportion of valuable minerals. The flotation tailings 40 leaving flotation step 30 still contain significant quantities of valuable mineral. Not wishing to be bound by any particular theory, it is believed that the valuable mineral is present in stream 40 as partially oxidised sulphide minerals and oxide minerals. These minerals containing valuable metal are not normally conducive to flotation with sulphide mineral-type reagents.
The present applicant has found, however, that it is possible to recover the valuable metals in the flotation tailings stream 40. This'flotation tailings stream 40 undergoes a further conditioning step 50 whereby it is conditioned with nitrogen and inert/nonoxidising gas to substantially remove all dissolved oxygen present. It is also subjected to a surface modifying agent such as sodium sulphite (Na 2 The conditioned slurry leaving the second conditioning step 50 is fed to air flotation step 60 in which the valuable mineral leaving the previous. flotation step 30 with tailings 40, is recovered as a concentrate The tailings 70 leaving this last flotation step have very little valuable minerals included.
The present invention is suitable for application to any ore which includes minerals of different mineralogical character including but not limited to copper skamns, porphyry copper/molybdenum, supergene enrichment. It is also believed that the process could be applied to the flotation of ores containing copper, lead, zinc and nickel minerals.
The proposed method has significant advantages over conventional flotation processes including the ability to tailor both the first and second conditioning steps and first and second flotation steps to the particular mixed mineral ore undergoing the process.
Further, having a second conditioning step allows an operator to recover valuable minerals which he/she may have expected to recover in the first conditioning/flotation step.
To explain, the flotation of some minerals can be readily enhanced by the addition of oxygen. This is particularly true for sulphide minerals. On the other hand, the flotation of some minerals may be reduced by oxidation. In the present invention, if addition of oxygen has decreased the flotation of some valuable minerals, then this is reversed by the 10 application of the inert gas and surface modifying agent in the second conditioning step and any valuable minerals present as, for example, oxide that previously were not floatable can be made floatable.
It should also be remembered that the most common way of producing oxygen and nitrogen gases is by separation of these components from air. Since both these gases are required for the present method, it is possible to select a gas separation plant that will simultaneously produce both gases, of the desired purity, on site for the recovery process.
It is expected that both conditioning steps and flotation steps may require some optimnisation to match the ore being floated. For example, the duration and intensity of oxygen conditioning and therefore the dissolved oxygen concentration prior to flotation of the first concentration may be tailored to suit the particular ore.
The duration of the oxidative conditioning may depend upon a number of factors such as pulp electrochemical or oxidation-reduction potential; whether the conditioning is a batch or continuous process and the desirability of avoiding over-oxidation of the pulp.
Generally, the optimal results in terms of conditioning will be achieved with not longer -6than 60 minutes conditioning, preferably less than 20 minutes conditioning and preferably 3 to 12 minutes.
The optimum oxygen addition rate and pulp saturation may be determined for each specific ore type by trial and error. For example, the maintenance of a dissolved oxygen concentration of 6 to greater than 30 mg/l pulp liquor for a period of 3 to 12 minutes may prove effective for many ore types but preliminary testing is advisable.
The oxidative conditioning step may occur prior to flotation or simultaneously therewith. The former strategy is preferred because deleterious components, such as sulphoxy compounds and especially thiosulphate, in the pulp may be destroyed by a pre- 10 oxidation step prior to the addition of collectors, activators and other flotation reagents.
o* A preliminary oxidation step wherein the oxidising gas is introduced at the mill, where fresh sulphide surfaces may be generated which are most susceptible to activation, or in a primary conditioning stage is advantageous in that, by consuming deleterious components such as abraded iron, poly sulphides and sulphoxy species, undesirable consumption of flotation reagents is avoided and improved activation of the sulphide :minerals is consequently achieved. Oxidising gas may also be introduced to the pulp on discharge of the pulp from milling prior to addition of other flotation reagents, eg collectors, frothers etc.
.There is no need for the oxidative conditioning step to occur in a single stage. For example, the oxidising gas may be introduced in a preliminary conditioning stage. The remaining flotation reagents may then be added in a secondary oxidative conditioning stage. Thus oxidising gas and other flotation reagents may be introduced in discrete conditioning or other stages. It is not intended here to limit the oxidative conditioning stage. It is intended to illustrate that the introduction of the oxidising gas and other ,ir i -7flotation reagents to the circuit may occur in a number. of ways promoting the efficiency of the process.
Similarly, the conditioning step with non-oxidising gas, and surface modifying reagent, may be conducted in a discrete conditioning step prior to flotation, but may also occur during milling. Further, conditioning with non-oxidising gas may occur simultaneously with flotation or at any other convenient stage of the flotation operation.
Conveniently, addition of the surface modification reagent to the pulp may be controlled in accordance with the optimal dissolved oxygen concentration or oxidationreduction potential range for conditioning, (for example, if a sulphur containing reagent, for sulpbidisation) which is ideally predetermined by trial and error for each specific ore type of interest. Addition of the reagent is then typically conducted when the monitored oxidation-reduction potential or dissolved oxygen concentration rises above the desired range and discontinued when the oxidation-reduction potential falls below the desired range. The desired range for oxidation-reduction potential would generally fall in the range -lO0mV to -1OOOmV as measured against silver/silver sulphide electrode More preferably, E, would be within the range -200mV to -600mV.
The time taken in the conditioning step is of some importance. Generally, in continuous conditioning operations this time should be between 1 and 10 minutes, more preferably I to 6 minutes and most preferably 3 to 5 minutes.
EXAMPLE
By way of example, two tests were conducted where I kg charges of crushed ore containing various copper minerals assaying 0.48% copper and 0.3 5% sulphur were slurried in water to obtain pulp density 62 wt%/ solids and milled in a mild steel rod mill C-:4t-z -8employing stainless steel rods to achieve flotation feed sizing in the region of 40% passing microns.
The milled slurry was then transferred to a 2.5 litre Denver flotation cell and diluted with water to achieve a pulp density 35 wt/% solids. The agitator speed was set at 1500 rpm and maintained constant throughout the tests.
TEST 1 CONTROL TEST The appropriate quantity of sulphide mineral collector was added and the slurry was conditioned for 1 minute. At the completion of collector conditioning an appropriate quantity of frother was added. The slurry was conditioned for a further 1 minute prior to 10 flotation.
Flotation with air was commenced and four rougher concentrates were produced after 1, 3, 6 and 10 minutes respectively of flotation. The flotation products were dried, weighed and assayed for copper content.
Metallurgical results of the test are as follows: Flotation Performance Cone 1 35.9 70.5 Cone 1 2 31.4 79.5 Cone 1+2+3 28.4 81.9 Concl +2+3+4 25.7 83.0 TEST 2 PRESENT INVENTION The same quantity of sulphide mineral collector as Test 1 was added and the slurry was conditioned for 1 minute. At the completion of collector conditioning the slurry was subjected to the first conditioning step of the present invention where 02 gas was added to -9achieve a dissolved oxygen concentration of 20 ppm for 2 minutes. Then the same quantity of frother as Test 1 was added. The slurry was conditioned for a further 1 minute prior to flotation.
Flotation with air was commenced and two rougher concentrates were produced after 1 and 3 minutes respectively of flotation. The slurry was then subjected to the second conditioning step of the present invention where N 2 gas was added at 1 Ipm to essentially remove oxygen dissolved in the slurry and a surface modifying reagent sodium hydrosulphide (NaHS) was added over 2.5 minutes at a rate to achieve and maintain a o sulphide potential of minus 400mV as measured by a sulphide selective electrode. The 10 quantity of NaHS required to achieve these conditions was Flotation with air was commenced and two rougher concentrates were produced after 3 and 6 minutes respectively of flotation. The flotation times were therefore identical to Test 1. The flotation products were dried, weighed and assayed for copper content.
Flotation Performance Product Copper Assay Copper Distibution% Cone 1 37.0 71.3 Cone 1 +2 31.0 81.5 Cone 1 2 3 27.7 83.7 Cone 1 2 3 4 23.8 85.3 The test data indicates that at essentially identical concentrate copper assay the present invention: Increased overall copper recovery by 2.3%.
The first conditioning step increased copper recovery to Cone 1 2 by 2%.
The second conditioning step increased copper recovery to Cone 3 4 by 0.3%.
The results in terms of increasing copper recovery are considered significant as the copper that is traditionally not recovered in the flotation process is always elusive. In other words, the present invention recovered 13.5% of the copper not recoverable by the traditional flotation procedure.
It will be recognised by persons skilled in the art that the present invention provides a significant advance over the prior art. By the use of this dual conditioning/flotation process, one can recover minerals of different mineralogical character from an ore in a single continuous process. Further, the use of a single gas separation plant to provide the required conditioning gases from air avoids the need for separate and costly supply of the :10 oxidising gas or inert/non-oxidising gas or indeed wastage of one of these gases.
It will be appreciated that the method may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention.
Claims (8)
1. A process for the recovery of valuable minerals of different mineralogical character from an ore wherein a milled slurry or flotation concentrate is subjected to a first conditioning step followed by a first flotation step to recover a valuable mineral in the slurry or concentrate, and a tailing stream from the first flotation step is subjected to a second conditioning step followed by a second flotation step to recover any valuable mineral in the tailing stream, wherein 10 one of the conditioning steps includes conditioning a slurry or flotation concentrate with an oxidising gas containing a gas selected from the group consisting of oxygen and ozone, and the other of the conditioning steps includes conditioning the slurry or flotation concentrate with a substantially non-oxidising gas and an oxidisable surface 15 modifying reagent.
2. A process as claimed in claim 1 wherein the oxidative conditioning step is conducted first, followed by flotation, and the second conditioning step with an inert or non-oxidising gas is conducted second, followed by the appropriate flotation step.
3. A process as claimed in either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the oxidising gas and the 20 substantially non-oxidising gas are generated from ambient air by a single gas separation plant.
4. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the ore contains a mixture of valuable minerals including sulphidic minerals or non-sulphidic minerals and non-valuable sulphidic minerals and non-valuable "gangue" material.
5. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the oxidising gas is selected from the group consisting of oxygen, oxygen-enriched air and ozone.
6. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the non-oxidising gas is selected from the group consisting of nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide, sulphur dioxide and admixtures thereof.
7. A process as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the surface modifying reagent is selected from the group consisting of sodium hydrosulphide, -12- sodium sulphide, hydrogen sulphide, ammonium sulphide, and ammonium hydrosulphide.
8. A process as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the surface modifying reagent is selected from the group consisting of sulphoxy agents including sodium sulphite, sodium hydrogen sulphite, sodium metabisulphite, sodium bisulphite, sulphur dioxide gas or solution, sulphide agents, K, Ca, NH salts thereof. DATED this 17th Day of May, 1999 BOC GASES AUSTRALIA LIMITED Attorney: PAUL G. HARRISON Fellow Institute of Patent Attorneys of Australia of BALDWIN SHELSTON WATERS So **o S o
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU29063/99A AU744935B2 (en) | 1998-05-27 | 1999-05-17 | Flotation separation of valuable minerals |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| AUPP3734A AUPP373498A0 (en) | 1998-05-27 | 1998-05-27 | Flotation separation of valuable minerals |
| AUPP3734 | 1998-05-27 | ||
| AU29063/99A AU744935B2 (en) | 1998-05-27 | 1999-05-17 | Flotation separation of valuable minerals |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| AU2906399A AU2906399A (en) | 1999-12-09 |
| AU744935B2 true AU744935B2 (en) | 2002-03-07 |
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ID=25620911
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| AU29063/99A Ceased AU744935B2 (en) | 1998-05-27 | 1999-05-17 | Flotation separation of valuable minerals |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
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| AU (1) | AU744935B2 (en) |
Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5074994A (en) * | 1990-10-18 | 1991-12-24 | The Doe Run Company | Sequential and selective flotation of sulfide ores |
| US5110455A (en) * | 1990-12-13 | 1992-05-05 | Cyprus Minerals Company | Method for achieving enhanced copper flotation concentrate grade by oxidation and flotation |
| US5295585A (en) * | 1990-12-13 | 1994-03-22 | Cyprus Mineral Company | Method for achieving enhanced copper-containing mineral concentrate grade by oxidation and flotation |
-
1999
- 1999-05-17 AU AU29063/99A patent/AU744935B2/en not_active Ceased
Patent Citations (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5074994A (en) * | 1990-10-18 | 1991-12-24 | The Doe Run Company | Sequential and selective flotation of sulfide ores |
| US5110455A (en) * | 1990-12-13 | 1992-05-05 | Cyprus Minerals Company | Method for achieving enhanced copper flotation concentrate grade by oxidation and flotation |
| US5295585A (en) * | 1990-12-13 | 1994-03-22 | Cyprus Mineral Company | Method for achieving enhanced copper-containing mineral concentrate grade by oxidation and flotation |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| AU2906399A (en) | 1999-12-09 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| CB | Opposition lodged by |
Opponent name: WMC RESOURCES LTD |