Cassiterite Flotation Research Articles

Cassiterite Flotation with Sulphosuccinamate Collector

ABSTRACT Sulphosuccinamate is one of the best collectors used for flotation of cassiterite. The flotation results show that sulphosuccinamate displays strong collection and selectivity for cassiterite at lower dosage. The influence of other factors, such as depressants and metal cations on the cassiterite flotation has also been investigated. Studies on the mechanism of flotation with sulphosuccinamate, through zeta potential, infrared spectrometer, XPS and molecular orbital theory indicate that multi-ring chelates are formed on the cassiterite surface through chemical bonding between active stannum sites and oxygens in carboxylic and sulphonic acid groups of sulphosuccinamate.

Cassiterite flotation using styrene phosphonic acid to produce high-grade concentrates at high recoveries from finely disseminated ores- comparison with other collectors and discussion of effective circuit configurations

Styrene phosphonic acid (SPA) is one of the best collector reagents for flotation of cassiterite and the best collector for the flotation of finely disseminated cassiterite and wolframite ores. Data from our research work has shown that only with SPA is it possible to obtain higher grade tin concentrates containing more than 40% Sn at high recoveries. The basis for this is the named collector, a highly developed reagent system and a special flotation technology, which was carried out in cyclic Laboratory tests with tin ores from Czechoslovakia, Canada, Portugal and Germany, and introduced into the processing plants at Neves Corvo, Portugal, Rio Kemptville, Canada and Altenberg, Germany.

Physico-Chemical Factors Affecting the Separation of Cassiterite and Fluorite by Froth Flotation

Abstract Cassiterite flotation is achieved industrially with some anionic collectors. However, the presence of fluorite in primary tin ores usually poses a problem in relation to the selectivity between the two minerals. In this work, a comparative study was undertaken involving adsorption, electrophoretic mobility and suspension stability measurements of both cassiterite and fluorite as a function of oleic acid concentration. These properties are discussed with reference to the calculated free energy of adsorption equation pending of oleic acid on the two minerals. Hallimond tube flotation tests conducted with the two minerals showed a distinctly higher floatability of fluorite at low oleic acid concentration. Micro-flotation studies using Procol CA-540. a sulphosuccinamate collector, presented similar results, indicating that fluorite can be floated selectively from cassiterite at low collector concentration and neutral pH.

Comparison of Phosphonic and Pyrophosphonic Acids as Collectors for the Cassiterite Flotation

Abstract Styryl phosphonic acid (SPA) is a collector used in the industrial flotation of cassiterite, During its production from styrene and PCl5 by-products are formed in different amounts. One of these is condensed SPA caused by uncomplete hydrolysis of the intermediary phosphonic acid chloride. Attempts were made to synthesize definite forms of condensed SPA in order to study their influence on the results of flotation. Conventional methods-partial hydrolysis of phosphonic acid chlorides or reaction of acid chlorides with the free acid-did not lead to the desired result. Diammonium salt of the pyro-SPA was obtained by the method of (1) using dehydration of phosphonic acid by heating with urea. A series of analogous aromatic pyro-phosphonic acids was synthesized. The hydrophobization effect on Sn02 surfaces was studied by microflotation tests in a modified Hallimond tube. Pyrophosphonic acids are more hydrophobic than the corresponding phosphonic acids. The results of the microflotation experiments were...

Comparison of Phosphonic and Pyrophosphonic Acids as Collectors for the Cassiterite Flotation

Comparison of Phosphonic and Pyrophosphonic Acids as Collectors for the Cassiterite Flotation

The influence of point defects on the floatability of cassiterite, II. Electrostatic collector interactions

Cassiterite flotation, irrespective of trace element dopant, follows the electrostatic theory of flotation with sodium dodecyl sulfate and dodecyl ammonium acetate collectors. This appears to be the underlying mechanism for cassiterite flotation with a broad variety of collectors, though other attachment mechanisms are frequently superimposed on this basic mechanism. The flotation of cassiterite with these collectors is strongly influenced by the dopant present, with the ease of flotation following the pattern: Fe 3+-doped > undoped > Sb 5+-doped SnO 2 The Fe 3+-doped material floats at about one-tenth the collector concentration required to float the Sb 5+-doped material.

Surface studies on aqueous suspensions of tourmaline (dravite)

Tourmaline (dravite) from Western Australia was characterized and its surface properties studied by techniques including potentiometric titrations, microelectrophoresis, X-ray diffraction, microprobe analysis, secondary ion mass spectrometry and ion exchange. Results showed that, when suspended in aqueous solution, dravite released lattice ions into solution. The zeta potential of the dravite surface could be manipulated by exchanging ions from the tourmaline lattice with ions of different valency from solution. The significance of these results to tourmaline flotation are discussed with particular reference to selective cassiterite flotation from tourmaline.

Alkane dicarboxylic acids and aminonaphthol-sulfonic acids — A new reagent regime for cassiterite flotation

In basic research it had been found out that alkane dicarboxylic acids are effective cassiterite collectors which can float cassiterite particles up to 100 μm. However, for a special tin ore their selectivity against topaz was not satisfying. For this reason attempts were made to find hydrophilic organic reagents with the help of which topaz can be effectively depressed. Above all, various aminonaphthol sulphonic acids proved to be suitable. The possibilities of application of such reagent regimes are summarized.

Parameter Adaptive Modelling of Mineral Beneficiation Processes

Abstract Data logged on mineral benefIclation processes during normal operation are analysed using time series (correlation and spectral) methods to identify the dynamics of the processes for on-line cotaputer control. Recursive least squares estimation techniques are used to identify parametric oodels for a cassiterite flotation circuit and a coal uashery. Identification problem such as the determination of model order, process time delays and the ‘contamination’ of the data by process recycle streams (feedback) are dlscusscd. Typical results are presented in which optimised models are identified from data logged during normal operation.

Preparations for Computer Control of a Cassiterite Flotation Circuit

The cassiterite flotation circuit at Renison operates differently from a normal sulphide float, having four stages of cleaning and very high levels of recycle. The plant is difficult to control manually and considerable variability is observed in the flows and assays of most streams. This paper describes the installation of isotope on-stream analysis probes as an initial phase in the automation of the circuit. Analysis of plant data indicates that the availability of the assays on a continuous basis has enabled operators to increase the circuit recovery by 3.2%; this paid off the cost of the probes in less than two months. Considerable variability still exists in the circuit operation and analysis of plant records and circuit experiments are described which has enabled an automatic control scheme to be designed and economically justified.