Abstract
The molybdenum and fluorite were obtained in different phases with the flotation of fluorite ore containing molybdenum obtained from Karaamagaradere-Keban-Elazig district in Turkey. It has been found that the original ore contains 1.08 % Mo, 0.05 %Cu, 1.20 % Pb, 1.12 % Zn and 12.0 % F. It was determined that molybdenum and fluorite could not be enriched in different phases with satisfactory yields by flotation of original ore at the defined size. Thus, the ore was sulfurized before the flotation. Concentrates containing molybdenum and the other concentrates containing fluorite were collected with fairly high yields in different phases by the flotation of the sulfurized ore. In the optimum flotation conditions, the Mo, Pb, Cu and Zn were obtained over 95 % yields and approximately 6 % fluorite passed into concentrate phase. Mo and Cu containing phase were enriched with high yield by selective flotation of concentrate obtained from the concentrate. On the other hand, the most of Pb and Zn remained in tailing. In order to gain molybdenum, the appropriate concentrate was obtained by this process with hydrometallurgical method. It was also determined that the trace amounts of Ta, Nb and V in ore were collected in the concentrate phase. In the first step of flotation, the fluorite left in the tailing contained 29.6 % of CaF2. After flotation of this tailing, concentrate grade of CaF2 raised to 96 %. 0.5 % of sulfur was found in this concentrate. It was concluded that this concentrate contained fluorite with suitable particle size (-100 mesh) and at sufficient concentration for metallurgical processes.
Highlights
Fluorite (CaF2) is an important fluorine mineral, which is mostly used for the production of hydrofluoric acid and as a flux in steel making
There have been numerous reports on the modification of the chemical scheme in fluorite flotation, in order to increase the separation efficiency and lower the operation costs. It was [1] reported that methanoic acid could selectively adsorb onto fluorite surfaces in preference to calcite surfaces at ambient temperature. This means that fluorite flotation to remove calcite might be achieved at a much lower temperature if methanoic acid is used as collector, resulting in a large reduction in energy consumption
Liberation with respect to particle size was unsatisfactory and this resulted in low flotation yield
Summary
Fluorite (CaF2) is an important fluorine mineral, which is mostly used for the production of hydrofluoric acid and as a flux in steel making. There have been numerous reports on the modification of the chemical scheme in fluorite flotation, in order to increase the separation efficiency and lower the operation costs It was [1] reported that methanoic acid could selectively adsorb onto fluorite surfaces in preference to calcite surfaces at ambient temperature. This means that fluorite flotation to remove calcite might be achieved at a much lower temperature if methanoic acid is used as collector, resulting in a large reduction in energy consumption. Acidized sodium silicate was reported to depress calcite strongly in preference of fluorite at ambient temperature, leading the fluorite flotation to be achieved at a lower temperature [4]
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