Galvanic Interaction between Chalcopyrite and Pyrite with Low Alloy and High Carbon Chromium Steel Ball

Asghar Azizi,Mohammad Noaparast,Mohammad Karamoozian,Seid Ziaoddin Shafaei

doi:10.1155/2013/817218

Asghar Azizi, Mohammad Noaparast + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1155/2013/817218

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Abstract

This study was aimed to investigate the galvanic interaction between pyrite and chalcopyrite with two types of grinding media (low alloy and high carbon chromium steel ball) in grinding of a porphyry copper sulphide ore. Results indicated that injection of different gases into mill altered the oxidation-reduction environment during grinding. High carbon chromium steel ball under nitrogen gas has the lowest galvanic current, and low alloy steel ball under oxygen gas had the highest galvanic current. Also, results showed that the media is anodic relative to pyrite and chalcopyrite, and therefore pyrite or chalcopyrite with a higher rest potential acted as the cathode, whilst the grinding media with a lower rest potential acted as the anode, when they are electrochemically contacted. It was also found that low alloy steel under oxygen produced the highest amount of EDTA extractable iron in the slurry, whilst high carbon chromium steel under nitrogen atmosphere led to the lowest amount.

Highlights

The key to a successful separation in mineral processing is the preparation of particles with adequate liberation under the correct pulp chemical conditions [1]
Results of potentiodynamic polarization studies for pyrite, chalcopyrite, and low alloy and high carbon chromium steel balls under different aeration conditions at a scanning rate of 50 mV/sec are illustrated in Figures 2 and 3
The purpose of this study was to investigate the galvanic interaction between pyrite and chalcopyrite with low alloy and high carbon chromium steel balls in grinding of the Sarcheshmeh porphyry copper sulphide ore

Summary

Introduction

The key to a successful separation in mineral processing is the preparation of particles with adequate liberation under the correct pulp chemical conditions [1]. Galvanic interaction is one of the most important electrochemical factors, which governs the dissolution rate of sulphide minerals in hydrometallurgical systems [11]. It may occur in many minerals processing systems, flotation [12,13,14], leaching of sulfide [15,16,17], and wet grinding [18, 19]. During grinding due to sulphide mineral electrical conductivity a contact between mineral in ore and grinding media occurs which results in a galvanic couple between the media and the sulphide mineral This increases dissolution of ferrous ions from grinding media, which are usually precipitated in the form of iron oxy-hydroxides on the surfaces of the sulphide minerals [20,21,22]

Objectives

Results

Conclusion