Abstract
Separating oxidized zinc minerals from flotation tailings is always a challenge. In this study, a flotation tailing from Wulagen zinc mine in China (Zn grade < 1%) was processed using froth flotation with combinations of amines (OPA 10, OPA 1214, OPA 13, DDA) and Na2S to study the effects of these amines on the zinc recovery as well as their interactions with other reagents, aiming to screen out a proper reagent scheme to improve zinc separation from extremely low-grade zinc flotation tailings. The results show that different amines led to different flotation performance, and the collectors were ranked as OPA 1214, OPA 13, OPA 10 and DDA in a decreasing order based on flotation collectivity and selectivity. An increase in the concentration of each collector increased the zinc recovery but reduced the concentrate zinc grade. Interactions were also observed between different amines and Na2S and Na2SiO3, and OPA 1214 outdid the others in saving the usage of both the Na2S and Na2SiO3. The measured adsorption of collector onto smithsonite was found to correlate well with flotation test results. It was concluded that hydrocarbon chains can be held accountable for the difference in the flotation performance with different amines. The longer the hydrocarbon chain, the stronger the hydrophobic association ability of amine, which is conducive to the selective amine adsorption onto sulfurized smithsonite particles and hence the smithsonite flotation.
Highlights
Wulagen Zn mine is located in Ulugqat County, Kashgar City, Xin Jiang, China
Due to the difficulty in recovering smithsonite, nearly 30% zinc is lost to the flotation tailings, which have an average zinc grade of 0.5–1.2%
Apart from the poor floatability of smithsonite, the formation of slimy slurries by the abovementioned clayed gangue minerals accounts for poor zinc flotation performance
Summary
The zinc ore mainly contains sulfide mineral sphalerite and oxidized mineral smithsonite, with an average Zn grade of 2.5%. The literature indicates that these collectors have performed well in the recovery of zinc oxide mineral [2], hydroxamic acids that are more collective due to their strong chelating ability [3]. It should be noted, that these anionic collectors are generally limited to their selectivity, especially when processing oxide ores with a high content of carbonate gangue minerals [4]. Smoedtihuomd acadrobpotneadteby(pfluortiatytio>n 99o.p2e%ra),toorbstaininoerdefdroremssSiningopplhanartsmtohoaldddinrgeasgXeunztshoinutoCfloo.,tLattido.n, Csyhsinteam, ws.as used as the pH
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