Foaming agent as well as preparation method and application thereof

Abstract

The invention discloses a foaming agent as well as a preparation method and application thereof, and belongs to the technical field of mineral separation. The foaming agent comprises the following raw materials in percentage by mass: 80%-96% of No.2 oil and 1%-22% of lauryl mercaptan. The foaming agent is prepared by the following steps: compounding and modifying No.2 oil, and uniformly mixing the No.2 oil with lauryl mercaptan according to a certain mass ratio, so as to obtain modified No.2 oil; the modified foaming agent not only has the characteristics of good foam brittleness and good flowability, but also can strengthen a collecting agent for sulphide ore, and can achieve the purpose of improving the concentrate grade and the recovery rate at the same time.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of mineral processing technology, specifically to a foaming agent, its preparation method, and its application. Background Technology

[0002] In sulfide ore flotation, frothers are indispensable flotation reagents. They directly affect mineral recovery and concentrate grade by regulating bubble dispersion, inhibiting bubble aggregation, and influencing the structure and stability of the froth layer. The main function of frothers is to generate froth of appropriate quantity, moderate particle size, and certain stability to facilitate the adhesion and flotation of mineral particles. The stability of the froth is crucial for the flotation process; however, excessively high stability can lead to difficulty in removing the froth layer, while excessively low stability will prevent effective mineral capture.

[0003] Alcohol-based frothers are a widely used class of reagents in flotation processes. Their molecular structure contains hydroxyl groups (-OH), which are hydrophilic. Typical examples include methyl isobutyl methanol (MIBC), 2-octanol, n-butanol, and various fatty alcohols (such as C6-C8 mixed fatty alcohols). These frothers produce foams with uniform bubble size and good stability. The foams are relatively brittle and do not easily become excessively viscous, which is beneficial for defoaming after flotation and for concentrate processing.

[0004] Ether and ether alcohol foaming agents are important synthetic agents. Ether foaming agents use an ether group (-O-) as their hydrophilic group; representative examples include polyethylene glycol ethers and 1,1,3-triethoxybutane. Ether alcohol foaming agents contain both ether and hydroxyl groups, such as butyl ether alcohol and ethyl ether alcohol. These agents have very strong foaming power, producing a large number of fine and stable bubbles, making them particularly suitable for high-concentration mineral slurries.

[0005] However, generally speaking, No. 2 oil remains the most widely used frother in mineral processing. No. 2 oil typically refers to pine oil, a widely used natural frother in mineral flotation processes, whose core components are terpene alcohols. No. 2 oil has a relatively large molecular structure and high viscosity. When processing muddy ores, the clay minerals in the mud have many active sites on their surface, which easily react with this large-molecule frother, causing the foam to become sticky. Fine mud easily follows the foam, affecting the concentrate quality. To solve this problem, synthetic alcohol frothers are generally used, such as mixtures of methyl isobutyl methanol and C6-C8 alcohols. These frothers have good foam brittleness, fast defoaming, and high selectivity, effectively reducing fine mud entrainment. Alternatively, new composite frothers, such as ether alcohols, esters, and polyethylene glycol, can be used to control bubble size and effectively reduce foam viscosity. However, the prices of these frothers are usually higher than No. 2 oil, which has certain limitations.

[0006] In summary, existing methods for addressing the issues of sticky foam and mineral mud inclusions in No. 2 oil as a foaming agent are costly and have certain limitations. Therefore, there is an urgent need for a lower-cost foaming agent that can solve these problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this invention is to provide a foaming agent, its preparation method, and its application, in order to solve the technical problems of existing foaming agents, such as sticky foam, inclusion of mineral mud, and high cost.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, one embodiment of the present invention provides a foaming agent comprising the following raw materials in the indicated mass percentages: 80%-96% No. 2 oil and 1%-22% dodecyl mercaptan.

[0009] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the foaming agent comprises the following raw materials in the following mass percentage ratios: No. 2 oil 90%-95%, dodecyl mercaptan 4%-15%.

[0010] Based on the foaming agent disclosed in this invention, this invention also discloses a method for preparing the foaming agent, comprising: mixing No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan and stirring for 10 min-20 min to obtain the foaming agent.

[0011] The present invention also discloses the application of a frother in the flotation of sulfide ores.

[0012] One preferred embodiment of the present invention, flotation of sulfide ore, includes the following steps: Preparation of sulfide slurry; Collector and frother are added to sulfide slurry to obtain a mixture; The mixture is subjected to flotation.

[0013] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the concentration of the sulfide slurry is 25%-35%, and the proportion of minerals with a fineness of ≤0.074mm in the sulfide slurry is 65%-75%.

[0014] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, flotation includes roughing, cleaning and sweeping.

[0015] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, a collector is added during the roughing and scavenging processes.

[0016] One preferred embodiment of the present invention involves adding a collector and a frother to a sulfide slurry to obtain a mixture, comprising: adding a collector and a frother to the sulfide slurry and stirring for 1-5 minutes to obtain a mixture.

[0017] In one preferred embodiment of the present invention, the amount of foaming agent added is 20g / t-40g / t relative to the amount of sulfide slurry used.

[0018] In summary, the beneficial effects of the present invention are as follows: 1. The foaming agent of this invention is a compound modification of No. 2 oil. No. 2 oil is mixed with dodecyl mercaptan at a certain mass ratio to obtain modified No. 2 oil. This foaming agent not only has the characteristics of good foam brittleness and good fluidity, but also enhances the collector effect on sulfide ores, and can simultaneously improve concentrate grade and recovery rate.

[0019] 2. The foaming agent of this invention is modified by compounding No. 2 oil with a small amount of dodecyl mercaptan. The molecular structure of dodecyl mercaptan (weak hydrophilic group + strong hydrophobic chain) determines that the interfacial film it forms has weak hydration, high rigidity, poor elasticity, and fast drainage. This characteristic is used to reduce the viscosity of the foam formed by No. 2 oil, thereby reducing fine mud inclusions and improving the concentrate grade. At the same time, dodecyl mercaptan also has the ability to collect sulfide ores, which can play an auxiliary role in collection, achieving the goal of simultaneously improving concentrate grade and recovery rate.

[0020] Other features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and will be apparent in part from the description, or may be learned by practicing the invention. The objects and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the effects described in the description and the accompanying drawings. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the flotation process for sulfide ore in an embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0022] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the embodiments of the present invention clearer, the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are only some embodiments of the present invention, not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0023] The endpoints and any values ​​of the ranges disclosed in this invention are not limited to the precise ranges or values, and these ranges or values ​​should be understood to include values ​​close to these ranges or values. For numerical ranges, the endpoint values ​​of the various ranges, the endpoint values ​​of the various ranges and individual point values, and individual point values ​​can be combined with each other to obtain one or more new numerical ranges, which should be considered as specifically disclosed in this invention.

[0024] In sulfide ore flotation, frothers are indispensable flotation reagents. No. 2 oil typically refers to pine oil, a widely used natural frother in mineral flotation processes, whose core components are terpene alcohols. No. 2 oil has a relatively large molecular structure and high viscosity. When processing muddy ores, the clay minerals in the mud have many active sites on their surface, which easily react with this large-molecule frother, causing the foam to become sticky. Fine mud easily follows the foam, affecting concentrate quality. To solve this problem, synthetic alcohol frothers are generally used, such as mixtures of methyl isobutyl methanol and C6-C8 alcohols. These frothers have good foam brittleness, rapid defoaming, and high selectivity, effectively reducing fine mud entrainment. Alternatively, new composite frothers, such as ether alcohols, esters, and polyethylene glycol, can be used to control bubble size and effectively reduce foam viscosity. However, the prices of these frothers are usually higher than No. 2 oil, which has certain limitations.

[0025] In summary, existing methods for solving the problems of sticky foam and mineral mud inclusions caused by using No. 2 oil as a foaming agent are costly and have certain limitations.

[0026] Therefore, the present invention provides a foaming agent comprising the following raw materials in the following mass percentage ratios: No. 2 oil 80%-96%, dodecyl mercaptan 1%-22%.

[0027] In one optional implementation, the mass percentage of oil No. 2 can be selected as 80%, 85%, 90%, or 96%.

[0028] In one optional implementation, the dodecyl mercaptan may be present in a mass percentage of 1%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, or 22%.

[0029] Preferably, the foaming agent comprises the following raw materials in the following mass percentage ratios: No. 2 oil 90%-95%, dodecyl mercaptan 4%-15%.

[0030] In one optional implementation, the mass percentage of oil No. 2 can be selected as 90%, 92%, or 95%.

[0031] In one optional implementation, the dodecyl mercaptan may be present in a mass percentage of 4%, 8%, 10%, or 15%.

[0032] The dodecyl mercaptan in the foaming agent of this invention, due to its molecular structure (weak hydrophilic group + strong hydrophobic chain), results in an interfacial film with weak hydration, high rigidity, poor elasticity, and rapid drainage, which is detrimental to foam stability. The hydrophilicity of the mercaptan group is much weaker than that of the hydroxyl or polyether groups. At the gas-liquid interface, C... 12 H 25When SH molecules are arranged, their relatively weak polar groups and long hydrophobic chains result in an adsorbed film with low viscosity, poor elasticity, and weak liquid film strength. Furthermore, dodecyl mercaptan can adsorb onto mineral surfaces, imparting strong hydrophobicity to the minerals. This leads to a thinning of the water layer between bubbles and particles, increased drainage, and a reduction in bubble viscosity. Utilizing the properties of dodecyl mercaptan, the viscosity of foam formed by No. 2 oil can be effectively reduced, thereby reducing fine mud inclusions and improving concentrate grade. Simultaneously, dodecyl mercaptan also has a collecting ability for sulfide ores, playing an auxiliary collecting role and achieving the goal of simultaneously improving concentrate grade and recovery rate.

[0033] Based on the foaming agent disclosed in this invention, this invention also discloses a method for preparing the foaming agent, comprising: mixing No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan and stirring for 10 min to 20 min to obtain the foaming agent; specifically, No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan are added to a stirrer in the above proportion and mixed and stirred evenly for 10 min to 20 min to obtain the foaming agent.

[0034] The present invention also discloses the application of a frother in the flotation of sulfide ores.

[0035] In one optional implementation, the flotation of sulfide ore includes the following steps: Step (1): Prepare sulfide slurry; specifically, crush and grind the sulfide ore to obtain sulfide slurry. The slurry concentration is 25%-35%, and the mineral fineness of the sulfide slurry is ≤0.074mm, accounting for 65%-75%. In one optional implementation, the sulfide slurry concentration can be selected as 25%, 30%, or 35%.

[0036] In one optional implementation, the proportion of minerals with a fineness of ≤0.074mm in the sulfide slurry can be selected as 65%, 70%, or 75%. Step (2): Add collector and frother to sulfide slurry to obtain a mixture; add collector (40-60g / t) and frother (20-40g / t) to sulfide slurry prepared in step (1) and stir for 1min-5min to obtain a mixture; Step (3): Flotation of the mixture.

[0037] In one alternative implementation, flotation includes roughing, cleaning, and sweeping. In one optional implementation, the selection process includes 2-3 selections, and the scanning process includes 2-3 scannings.

[0038] In one optional implementation, the selection includes a first selection and a second selection, and the scanning includes a first scanning and a second scanning; In an alternative implementation, a collector is added during the roughing and scavenging processes.

[0039] A schematic diagram of the flotation process for sulfide ores in this invention is shown below. Figure 1 As shown. From Figure 1 As can be seen from the process, sulfide ore is ground to obtain sulfide slurry, and then the prepared sulfide slurry is subjected to flotation. The specific flotation process is as follows: First, collectors and frothers are added to rough the sulfide slurry to obtain rough concentrate and rough tailings. The rough concentrate is then finely treated to obtain concentrate, and the rough tailings are then scavenged to obtain tailings.

[0040] The process of refining the rougher concentrate includes: performing a first refining process on the rougher concentrate to obtain a first refined concentrate and a first refined tailings; performing a second refining process on the obtained first refined concentrate to obtain a second refined concentrate (i.e., concentrate) and a second refined tailings; returning the first refined tailings to the rougher process; and returning the second refined tailings to the first refining process.

[0041] The scavenging of roughing tailings includes: adding a collector to perform a first scavenging of the roughing tailings to obtain a first scavenged concentrate and a first scavenged tailings; adding a collector again to perform a second scavenging of the first scavenged tailings to obtain a second scavenged concentrate and a second scavenged tailings (i.e., tailings), wherein the first scavenged concentrate is returned to the roughing process and the second scavenged concentrate is returned to the first scavenging process.

[0042] Preferably, during the roughing process, the mass ratio of the collector added to the sulfide slurry is (40g-60g):1t. For example, the mass ratio of the collector added to the sulfide slurry can be selected as 40g:1t, 50g:1t, or 60g:1t. The mass ratio of the frother added to the sulfide slurry is (20g-40g):1t. For example, the mass ratio of the frother added to the sulfide slurry can be selected as 20g:1t, 30g:1t, 40g:1t, or 30g:1t.

[0043] Furthermore, no chemicals are added during the selection process.

[0044] Preferably, in the first scavenging process, the ratio of the amount of collector added to the mass of the roughing tailings is (10g-20g):1t. For example, it can be selected that the ratio of the amount of collector added to the mass of the roughing tailings in the first scavenging process is 10g:1t, 15g:1t, or 20g:1t.

[0045] Preferably, in the second scavenging process, the mass ratio of the amount of collector added to the tailings of the first scavenging is (5g-10g):1t. For example, it can be selected that the mass ratio of the amount of collector added to the tailings of the first scavenging in the second scavenging process is 5g:1t, 8g:1t, or 10g:1t.

[0046] Example 1 A foaming agent comprising the following raw materials in the indicated mass ratios: 95% No. 2 oil and 5% dodecyl mercaptan.

[0047] A method for preparing a foaming agent: Mix No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan at a mass ratio of 95:5 and stir evenly for 10 minutes to obtain a foaming agent.

[0048] An application of a frother in the flotation of sulfide ores.

[0049] A method for flotation of sulfide ore, wherein the sulfide ore is copper sulfide ore containing 0.45% copper, the main copper-bearing mineral being chalcopyrite, and the gangue minerals being mainly silicate minerals such as quartz and feldspar, and also containing easily mud-forming kaolinite and chlorite, includes the following steps: grinding the copper sulfide ore to obtain copper sulfide slurry, and then flotating the copper sulfide slurry, wherein the mass fraction of ore with a particle size ≤0.074mm in the ore after grinding is 70%.

[0050] The flotation of copper sulfide ore pulp includes the following steps: First, a collector and a frother are added to rough the copper sulfide ore pulp. The mass ratio of the collector to the copper sulfide ore pulp is 50g:1t, and the mass ratio of the frother to the copper sulfide ore pulp is 25g:1t. Rough concentrate and rough tailings are obtained. The collector is butyl xanthate. The roughing concentrate is further refined, and the roughing tailings are scavenged. The refining of the roughing concentrate (without the addition of reagents) includes: a first refining process to obtain a first refined concentrate and a first refined tailings; a second refining process to obtain a second refined concentrate (i.e., copper concentrate) and a second refined tailings; the first refined tailings are returned to the roughing process, and the second refined tailings are returned to the first refining process. The roughing tailings are scavenged, including: adding a collector to perform a first scavenging of the roughing tailings, with the mass ratio of the collector added to the roughing tailings being 15g:1t, to obtain a first scavenged concentrate and a first scavenged tailings; adding a collector again to perform a second scavenging of the first scavenged tailings, with the mass ratio of the collector added to the first scavenged tailings being 8g:1t, to obtain a second scavenged concentrate and a second scavenged tailings (i.e., tailings); wherein the first scavenged concentrate is returned to the roughing process, and the second scavenged concentrate is returned to the first scavenging process, wherein the collector is butyl xanthate.

[0051] The copper concentrate after flotation was tested. The grade of the copper concentrate was tested by inductively coupled plasma (IPS) method. The test results were: the grade of copper concentrate was 23.34%, and the beneficiation recovery rate (copper concentrate grade × copper concentrate yield / raw ore grade) was 91.23%.

[0052] Example 2 A foaming agent comprising the following raw materials in the indicated mass ratios: 90% No. 2 oil and 10% dodecyl mercaptan.

[0053] A method for preparing a foaming agent: No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan are mixed at a mass ratio of 90:10 and stirred evenly for 10 minutes to obtain a foaming agent.

[0054] An application of a frother in the flotation of sulfide ores.

[0055] A method for flotation of sulfide ore, wherein the sulfide ore is copper sulfide ore containing 0.45% copper, the main copper-bearing mineral being chalcopyrite, and the gangue minerals being mainly silicate minerals such as quartz and feldspar, and also containing easily mud-forming kaolinite and chlorite, includes the following steps: grinding the copper sulfide ore to obtain copper sulfide slurry, and then flotating the copper sulfide slurry, wherein the mass fraction of ore with a particle size ≤0.074mm in the ore after grinding is 70%.

[0056] The flotation of copper sulfide ore pulp includes the following steps: First, a collector and a frother are added to rough the copper sulfide ore pulp. The mass ratio of the collector to the copper sulfide ore pulp is 50g:1t, and the mass ratio of the frother to the copper sulfide ore pulp is 25g:1t. Rough concentrate and rough tailings are obtained. The collector is butyl xanthate. The roughing concentrate is further refined, and the roughing tailings are scavenged. The refining of the roughing concentrate (without the addition of reagents) includes: a first refining process to obtain a first refined concentrate and a first refined tailings; a second refining process to obtain a second refined concentrate (i.e., copper concentrate) and a second refined tailings; the first refined tailings are returned to the roughing process, and the second refined tailings are returned to the first refining process. The roughing tailings are scavenged, including: adding a collector to perform a first scavenging of the roughing tailings, with the mass ratio of the collector added to the roughing tailings being 15g:1t, to obtain a first scavenged concentrate and a first scavenged tailings; adding a collector again to perform a second scavenging of the first scavenged tailings, with the mass ratio of the collector added to the first scavenged tailings being 8g:1t, to obtain a second scavenged concentrate and a second scavenged tailings (i.e., tailings); wherein the first scavenged concentrate is returned to the roughing process, and the second scavenged concentrate is returned to the first scavenging process, wherein the collector is butyl xanthate.

[0057] The copper concentrate after flotation in Example 2 was tested using the test method in Example 1. The test results were as follows: the grade of copper concentrate was 23.45%, and the beneficiation recovery rate (copper concentrate grade × copper concentrate yield / raw ore grade) was 91.31%.

[0058] Example 3 A foaming agent comprising the following raw materials in the indicated mass ratios: 80% No. 2 oil and 20% dodecyl mercaptan.

[0059] A method for preparing a foaming agent: Mix No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan at a mass ratio of 80:20 and stir evenly for 10 minutes to obtain a foaming agent.

[0060] An application of a frother in the flotation of sulfide ores.

[0061] A method for flotation of sulfide ore, wherein the sulfide ore is copper sulfide ore containing 0.45% copper, the main copper-bearing mineral being chalcopyrite, and the gangue minerals being mainly silicate minerals such as quartz and feldspar, and also containing easily mud-forming kaolinite and chlorite, includes the following steps: grinding the copper sulfide ore to obtain copper sulfide slurry, and then flotating the copper sulfide slurry, wherein the mass fraction of ore with a particle size ≤0.074mm in the ore after grinding is 70%.

[0062] The flotation of copper sulfide ore pulp includes the following steps: First, a collector and a frother are added to rough the copper sulfide ore pulp. The mass ratio of the collector to the copper sulfide ore pulp is 50g:1t, and the mass ratio of the frother to the copper sulfide ore pulp is 25g:1t. Rough concentrate and rough tailings are obtained. The collector is butyl xanthate. The roughing concentrate is further refined, and the roughing tailings are scavenged. The refining of the roughing concentrate (without the addition of reagents) includes: a first refining process to obtain a first refined concentrate and a first refined tailings; a second refining process to obtain a second refined concentrate (i.e., copper concentrate) and a second refined tailings; the first refined tailings are returned to the roughing process, and the second refined tailings are returned to the first refining process. The roughing tailings are scavenged, including: adding a collector to perform a first scavenging of the roughing tailings, with the mass ratio of the collector added to the roughing tailings being 15g:1t, to obtain a first scavenged concentrate and a first scavenged tailings; adding a collector again to perform a second scavenging of the first scavenged tailings, with the mass ratio of the collector added to the first scavenged tailings being 8g:1t, to obtain a second scavenged concentrate and a second scavenged tailings (i.e., tailings); wherein the first scavenged concentrate is returned to the roughing process, and the second scavenged concentrate is returned to the first scavenging process, wherein the collector is butyl xanthate.

[0063] The copper concentrate after flotation in Example 3 was tested using the test method in Example 1. The test results were as follows: the grade of copper concentrate was 23.89%, and the beneficiation recovery rate (copper concentrate grade × copper concentrate yield / raw ore grade) was 91.03%.

[0064] Example 4 A foaming agent comprising the following raw materials in the indicated mass ratios: 80% No. 2 oil and 20% dodecyl mercaptan.

[0065] A method for preparing a foaming agent: Mix No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan at a mass ratio of 80:20 and stir evenly for 10 minutes to obtain a foaming agent.

[0066] An application of a frother in the flotation of sulfide ores.

[0067] A method for flotation of sulfide ore, wherein the sulfide ore is copper sulfide ore containing 0.95% copper, the main copper-bearing minerals being chalcopyrite and chalcocite, and containing a significant amount of easily mud-forming kaolinite and chlorite, includes the following steps: grinding the copper sulfide ore to obtain a copper sulfide slurry, and then flotating the copper sulfide slurry, wherein the mass fraction of ore with a particle size ≤0.074mm in the ore after grinding is 65%.

[0068] The flotation of copper sulfide ore pulp includes the following steps: First, a collector and a frother are added to rough the copper sulfide ore pulp. The mass ratio of the collector to the copper sulfide ore pulp is 60g:1t, and the mass ratio of the frother to the copper sulfide ore pulp is 30g:1t. Rough concentrate and rough tailings are obtained. The collector is butyl xanthate. The roughing concentrate is further refined, and the roughing tailings are scavenged. The refining of the roughing concentrate (without the addition of reagents) includes: a first refining process to obtain a first refined concentrate and a first refined tailings; a second refining process to obtain a second refined concentrate (i.e., copper concentrate) and a second refined tailings; the first refined tailings are returned to the roughing process, and the second refined tailings are returned to the first refining process. The roughing tailings are scavenged, including: adding a collector to perform a first scavenging of the roughing tailings, with the mass ratio of the collector added to the roughing tailings being 20g:1t, to obtain a first scavenged concentrate and a first scavenged tailings; adding a collector again to perform a second scavenging of the first scavenged tailings, with the mass ratio of the collector added to the first scavenged tailings being 10g:1t, to obtain a second scavenged concentrate and a second scavenged tailings (i.e., tailings); wherein the first scavenged concentrate is returned to the roughing process, and the second scavenged concentrate is returned to the first scavenging process, wherein the collector is butyl xanthate.

[0069] The copper concentrate after flotation in Example 4 was tested using the test method in Example 1. The test results were as follows: the grade of copper concentrate was 28.68%, and the beneficiation recovery rate (copper concentrate grade × copper concentrate yield / raw ore grade) was 91.89%.

[0070] Comparative Example 1 This comparative example discloses a foaming agent, which is conventional No. 2 oil.

[0071] This comparative example also discloses the application of a frother in the flotation of sulfide ores. The flotation method for sulfide ores in this comparative example is the same as that in Example 1.

[0072] Using the same method as in Example 1, the copper concentrate obtained in this comparative example was tested, and the grade of the copper concentrate was 22.35%, and the beneficiation recovery rate (copper concentrate grade × copper concentrate yield / raw ore grade (0.53%)) was 90.98%.

[0073] Comparative Example 2 This comparative example discloses a foaming agent consisting of 70% No. 2 oil and 30% dodecyl mercaptan.

[0074] A method for preparing a foaming agent: No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan are mixed at a mass ratio of 70:30 and stirred evenly for 10 minutes to obtain a foaming agent.

[0075] This comparative example also discloses the application of a frother in the flotation of sulfide ores. The flotation method for sulfide ores in this comparative example is the same as that in Example 1.

[0076] Using the same method as in Example 1, the copper concentrate obtained in this comparative example was tested, and the grade of the copper concentrate was 23.95%, and the beneficiation recovery rate (copper concentrate grade × copper concentrate yield / raw ore grade) was 90.03%.

[0077] In summary, as demonstrated by the above embodiments and comparative examples, the foaming agent of the present invention is obtained by compounding and modifying No. 2 oil by mixing No. 2 oil with dodecyl mercaptan at a certain mass ratio. The modified foaming agent not only has the characteristics of good foam brittleness and good fluidity, but also enhances the collector effect on sulfide ores, thereby simultaneously improving concentrate grade and recovery rate.

[0078] The embodiments described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention. Various modifications and improvements made to the technical solutions of the present invention by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the present invention should fall within the protection scope defined by the claims of the present invention.

Claims

1. A foaming agent, characterized in that, The foaming agent comprises the following raw materials in the following mass percentage ratios: No. 2 oil 80%-96%, dodecyl mercaptan 1%-22%.

2. The foaming agent as described in claim 1, characterized in that: The foaming agent comprises the following raw materials in the following mass percentage ratios: No. 2 oil 90%-95%, dodecyl mercaptan 4%-15%.

3. A method for preparing a foaming agent according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that, include: Mix No. 2 oil and dodecyl mercaptan and stir for 10-20 minutes to obtain a foaming agent.

4. An application of the foaming agent according to any one of claims 1-2, characterized in that: It is used for the flotation of sulfide ores.

5. The application of a foaming agent as described in claim 4, characterized in that: The flotation of the sulfide ore includes the following steps: Preparation of sulfide slurry; Collector and frother are added to sulfide slurry to obtain a mixture; The mixture is subjected to flotation.

6. The application of a foaming agent as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The concentration of the sulfide slurry is 25%-35%, and the proportion of minerals with a fineness of ≤0.074mm in the sulfide slurry is 65%-75%.

7. The application of a foaming agent as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The flotation process includes roughing, cleaning, and sweeping.

8. The application of a foaming agent as described in claim 7, characterized in that: Collectors are added during the roughing and scavenging processes.

9. The application of a foaming agent as described in claim 5, characterized in that: The process of adding a collector and a frother to a sulfide slurry to obtain a mixture includes: adding a collector and a frother to a sulfide slurry and stirring for 1-5 minutes to obtain a mixture.

10. The application of a foaming agent as described in claim 5 or 9, characterized in that: The amount of foaming agent added is 20g / t-40g / t relative to the amount of sulfide slurry used.

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