Abstract
Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a strong oxidizer that causes non-selective oxidation of sulfide minerals, and its influence on bismuth sulfide ores is not well-documented. In this study, H2O2 was proposed as an alternative bismuthinite depressant, and its effect on a Mo-Bi-containing ore was intensively investigated by batch flotation tests. Results showed that the addition of H2O2 significantly destabilized the froth phase, thus decreasing the solids and water recovery. The recovery of bismuth in molybdenum concentrate was dramatically decreased to 4.64% by H2O2 compared with that in the absence of H2O2 (i.e., 50.14%). The modified first-order kinetic model demonstrated that the flotation rate of molybdenite slightly declined after H2O2 addition, whereas that of bismuthinite was drastically reduced from 0.30 min−1 to 0.08 min−1 under the same condition. Simulation revealed that H2O2 affected the floatability of both molybdenite and bismuthinite but resulted in more detrimental effect to bismuthinite. Hence, H2O2 has the potential to act as an effective depressant in bismuth sulfide ore flotation.
Highlights
The Shizhuyuan mine is one of the largest polymetallic deposits in the world, having been famous for its W-Sn-Mo-Bi mineralization zone since exploited in the 1960s [1,2]
The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the major sulfide minerals were molybdenite, bismuthinite, and pyrite
Ground molybdenite and freshly prepared synthetic bismuthinite were used for X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) samples
Summary
The Shizhuyuan mine is one of the largest polymetallic deposits in the world, having been famous for its W-Sn-Mo-Bi mineralization zone since exploited in the 1960s [1,2]. In Dongpo dressing plant, Shizhuyuan ore is first treated with bulk sulfide flotation, followed by tungsten mineral flotation, and fluorite is recovered in the last section. Most of the sulfide minerals float, forming Mo-Bi-Fe rougher concentrate. The differential flotation separation of Mo-Bi-Fe sulfide minerals is carried out to produce three distinct Mo, Bi, and Fe concentrates. The efficient separation of molybdenite from bismuthinite is a challenge for mineral-processing industries due to their similar flotation behavior. The efficient and inexpensive separation of bismuthinite from molybdenite at the early stage, such as flotation, is especially important
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
