Enhancing flotation separation of fine copper oxide from silica by microbubble assisted hydrophobic aggregation

Long，Qiurong1,3; Wang，Hao1,3; Jiang，Feng1,3; Tan，Wen1,3; Chen，Jinghe2; Zhong，Shuiping2; Guo，Xianjian2; Wang，Qiankun2; Xu，Zhenghe1,3

2022-11-01

10.1016/j.mineng.2022.107863

MINERALS ENGINEERING   Impact Factor & Quartile

0892-6875

One of the main challenges facing the flotation of base metal oxide minerals is their fine sizes of particles as a result of fine grinding to achieve a desired degree of liberation for low-grade and finely disseminated complex ores. This study aims at studying hydrophobic aggregation and in situ gas nucleation of fine copper oxides with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) as a selective collector to enhance CuO recovery. Experimental results by in situ and real time particle size measurement using focused beam reflectance measurement (FBRM) coupled with particle vision measurement (PVM) showed an enhanced aggregation of fine CuO by SDS adsorption. Particle aggregation assisted by gas nuclei which were generated in situ on CuO by high intensity agitation (HIA) was visualized by total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy (TIRFM). It is the enhanced aggregation with nanobubbles as bridges that improved its recovery from fine silica. Coupled with the calculation using the extended DLVO theory, contact angle and zeta potential of fine particles were measured to understand the critical role of hydrophobic forces in aggregation of fine CuO particles. The copper ions dissolved from the fine copper oxide were found to inadvertently activate fine silica flotation which could be effectively depressed by ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA). A combination of SDS with EDTA was proposed and demonstrated to achieve selective recovery of fine copper oxide from fine silica gangue. The results from this study provide directions for enhancing copper recovery from low grade and finely disseminated copper oxidize ores, in particular from tenorite ores.

Activation Copper oxide Fine particle flotation Hydrophobic aggregation In situ gas nucleation SDS

English

First ; Corresponding

National Natural Science Foundation of China[21938003];National Natural Science Foundation of China[51974162];

GEOSCIENCES

2-s2.0-85140137001

Scopus

1.Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Interfacial Science and Engineering of Materials,Department of Materials Science and Engineering,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China
2.State Key Laboratory of Comprehensive Utilization of Low-Grade Refractory Gold Ores,Zijin Mining Group Company Limited,Fujian,364200,China
3.Key University Laboratory of Highly Efficient Utilization of Solar Energy and Sustainable Development of Guangdong,Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,518055,China

Long，Qiurong,Wang，Hao,Jiang，Feng,et al. Enhancing flotation separation of fine copper oxide from silica by microbubble assisted hydrophobic aggregation[J]. MINERALS ENGINEERING,2022,189.

Long，Qiurong.,Wang，Hao.,Jiang，Feng.,Tan，Wen.,Chen，Jinghe.,...&Xu，Zhenghe.(2022).Enhancing flotation separation of fine copper oxide from silica by microbubble assisted hydrophobic aggregation.MINERALS ENGINEERING,189.

Long，Qiurong,et al."Enhancing flotation separation of fine copper oxide from silica by microbubble assisted hydrophobic aggregation".MINERALS ENGINEERING 189(2022).