Gold reinforced flotation method based on electrochemical bubble interface electron state regulation

Abstract

The application provides a gold reinforced flotation method based on electrochemical bubble interface electron state regulation, and belongs to the technical field of mineral flotation. The method comprises the following steps: grinding and slurry making of gold-containing ore to obtain ore slurry; treating water by micro-nano bubbles to obtain bubble water; electrochemically regulating the bubble water by applying an external potential to obtain functionalized bubble water; mixing the ore slurry, the functionalized bubble water, a collector and a foaming agent, and then performing flotation to obtain a gold concentrate. The bubble interface is taken as a core regulation object, the electron state of the bubble interface is adjusted by applying an external potential, the functionalized interface with stable charge distribution and interface polarization characteristics is formed on the bubble interface, the interface interaction between the bubble and gold and gold-bearing sulfide particles is enhanced, and the collision and adhesion probability of fine mineral particles and the bubble is improved. Under the condition of a lower amount of the collector, the overall flotation recovery rate of gold can be improved, the recovery efficiency of micro-fine gold can be significantly improved, and the stability of the flotation process can be improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of mineral flotation, and in particular to a gold-enhanced flotation method based on the electronic state regulation of the electrochemical bubble interface. Background Technology

[0002] Current gold flotation technologies generally focus on mineral surface modification. This involves selectively adsorbing thiocyanates or their derivatives onto the mineral surface to alter the hydrophobicity of gold or gold-loaded sulfides, thereby achieving mineral adhesion and flotation. However, this method is highly dependent on the chemical state of the mineral surface. When gold exists as fine particles, in an oxidized state, or covered by gangue and inhibitors, the effective adsorption of the collector is significantly limited, leading to increased collector dosage, decreased flotation selectivity, and unstable recovery. Furthermore, excessive collector use can easily induce non-selective flotation of gangue minerals, further weakening the separation efficiency of the gold flotation process.

[0003] To address these issues, some studies have begun to focus on the impact of bubble behavior on mineral adhesion during flotation, for example, by adjusting bubble size, quantity, or gas type to increase the probability of bubble-mineral collisions and adhesion. However, such research mainly focuses on the regulation of bubble physical properties, generally treating bubbles as mass transfer or carrier units, and has not yet functionalized the bubbles themselves from the perspective of interfacial physicochemical design.

[0004] In reality, the bubble-water interface is not an ideal inert interface. Its surface naturally possesses an electrical double layer structure, interfacial potential, and a directional arrangement of water molecules. Furthermore, this interfacial state can change with the solution environment, electrochemical conditions, and gas properties. Existing electrochemical studies have shown that under the control of an applied electric field or redox environment, the potential distribution, electron density, and composition of interfacial active species at the bubble interface can all be significantly altered, thereby affecting its interfacial interaction behavior with solid particles.

[0005] In existing flotation technologies, electrochemical control methods are mainly used to regulate the overall redox conditions of the pulp system, such as influencing mineral surface reactions by controlling the pulp potential. However, less attention is paid to the targeted regulation of the electronic state of the bubble interface by electrochemical conditions. Especially in the field of gold flotation, no research has yet been found to treat the "electronic state of the bubble interface" as an independent control object and to construct a flotation method system with bubbles as the main control unit. Therefore, existing technologies still have significant shortcomings in the following aspects: First, they lack effective control methods for the electronic structure of the bubble interface; second, they fail to fully utilize the inducing effect of the electrical and electronic states of the bubble interface on the interfacial behavior of gold and gold-loaded sulfides; and third, a new gold flotation method that focuses on the regulation of the electronic state of the bubble interface and is compatible with conventional flotation processes has not yet been developed.

[0006] Therefore, it is necessary to propose a new gold flotation technology to solve the above problems. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this application is to provide a gold-enhanced flotation method based on the electronic state regulation of the electrochemical bubble interface to solve the above-mentioned problems.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a gold-enhanced flotation method based on the electronic state modulation of the electrochemical bubble interface, comprising:

[0009] The gold-bearing ore is ground and pulped to obtain a slurry;

[0010] Water is treated with micro-nano bubbles to obtain sparkling water;

[0011] The sparkling water is electrochemically regulated by applying an external potential to obtain functionalized sparkling water.

[0012] The slurry, the functionalized bubble water, the collector, and the frother are mixed and floated to obtain gold concentrate.

[0013] Optionally, particles with a fineness of -0.074 mm account for 70%-85% of the slurry;

[0014] And / or, the solid content of the slurry is 25%-35%.

[0015] Optionally, the applied potential of the working electrode is controlled within the range of -0.3 to -1.2V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode.

[0016] Optionally, the electrochemical regulation is achieved through an electrochemical bubble generator and / or an electrode-assisted bubble regulation device.

[0017] Optionally, the oxidation-reduction potential of the functionalized sparkling water is 150-450mV;

[0018] And / or, the pH of the flotation is 6.0-9.0.

[0019] Optionally, the interfacial electronic state of the functionalized bubble water includes one or more of the following: interfacial polarization characteristics of the bubble interface, non-uniform charge distribution, and electron enrichment state.

[0020] Optionally, the collector includes butyl xanthate and / or benzoin;

[0021] And / or, the foaming agent includes #2 oil.

[0022] Optionally, the flotation includes roughing, cleaning, and sweeping.

[0023] The number of scans is 1 or 2;

[0024] The selection process is conducted at least twice.

[0025] Optionally, the selected product may also contain an inhibitor, which may include water glass.

[0026] Optionally, during the roughing process, the amount of collector used is 15-115 g / t slurry, the amount of frother used is 20-40 g / t slurry, and the time is 8-10 min.

[0027] And / or, during each scavenging operation, the amount of the collector is 5-20 g / t slurry, the amount of the frother is 5-10 g / t slurry, and the time is 4-6 min;

[0028] And / or, during each of the aforementioned selection processes, the amount of the inhibitor used is 100-250 g / t slurry, and the time is 5-12 min.

[0029] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application include:

[0030] This application provides a gold-enhanced flotation method based on electrochemical bubble interface electronic state regulation. It constructs functionalized bubble water with a specific interfacial potential distribution and electronic activity state through electrochemical regulation, enabling the bubble interface to form a stable and tunable charge structure and interfacial electronic state. This enhances the interfacial interaction between bubbles and gold or gold-loaded sulfides during pulp contact, thereby inducing selective attachment of gold minerals. Unlike traditional flotation methods that primarily rely on hydrophobic modification of mineral surfaces, this application focuses on the bubble interface as the core regulatory object. By enhancing the ability of the bubble interface's electronic state to regulate the bubble-mineral interface interaction, it significantly improves the interfacial attachment stability between gold and bubbles under low collector conditions, increasing gold flotation recovery and flotation process stability. The process conditions are mild, and the flow structure is compatible with conventional flotation processes. It can achieve enhanced regulation of gold flotation behavior without altering existing flotation procedures, and is applicable to various types of gold ores and gold-loaded sulfide systems, showing promising industrial application prospects. Attached Figure Description

[0031] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application, the accompanying drawings used in the embodiments will be briefly described below. It should be understood that the following drawings only show some embodiments of this application and should not be regarded as a limitation on the scope of this application.

[0032] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the gold-enhanced flotation method based on the electronic state regulation of the electrochemical bubble interface provided in Example 1. Detailed Implementation

[0033] It should be noted that, without changing the conventional flotation process structure, this application selectively modulates the interfacial electronic state and interfacial potential distribution of the bubble-water interface by applying a controllable external potential to the bubble water, thereby constructing a functionalized bubble system with enhanced interfacial interaction capabilities. Under weak collector conditions, this system enhances the adhesion behavior between gold or gold-bearing minerals and bubbles through a non-hydrophobic-dominated interfacial electronic interaction mechanism, thereby improving the flotation recovery rate and separation stability of gold.

[0034] First, the solution provided in this application will be explained in more detail as follows:

[0035] This application provides a gold-enhanced flotation method based on the electronic state modulation of the electrochemical bubble interface, comprising:

[0036] The gold-bearing ore is ground and pulped to obtain a slurry;

[0037] Water is treated with micro-nano bubbles to obtain sparkling water;

[0038] The sparkling water is electrochemically regulated by applying an external potential to obtain functionalized sparkling water.

[0039] It should be noted that the electrochemical regulation conditions are low-potential regulation methods, which do not generate plasma discharge, do not introduce plasma active species, and are insufficient to induce overall chemical modification of the mineral surface or slurry system. The electrochemical regulation mainly acts on the bubble-water interface, and strengthens the bubble-mineral interface interaction process by adjusting the interfacial potential distribution, electron density gradient, or interfacial electronic state of the bubble interface, without relying on significant chemical modification or oxidation treatment of the mineral surface.

[0040] Electrochemically controlling the surface charge and interfacial potential distribution of the bubble interface through an applied potential transforms the bubble from a conventional weakly negatively charged or unstable state into an active bubble interface with controllable charge characteristics, exhibiting certain interfacial polarization features. This enhances the electrostatic adsorption and interfacial interaction between the bubble and gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles. This can be understood as follows: during bubble generation or transport, by setting electrodes and applying an applied potential in the bubble system, a stable electric field can be formed around the bubble, causing a redistribution of ions in the solution near the bubble interface, thereby altering the electric double-layer structure and zeta potential of the bubble surface. When the applied potential changes, the charge density and potential distribution on the bubble surface also change, transforming the bubble from a conventional weakly negatively charged state into an active interface with controllable charge characteristics. Simultaneously, under the influence of the electric field, the bubble interface undergoes a certain degree of interfacial polarization, forming an induced charge distribution structure on the bubble surface. When these bubbles come into contact with gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles, they enhance the electrostatic adsorption and interfacial interaction between the bubble and the mineral, thereby reducing the bubble adhesion energy barrier and strengthening the flotation process.

[0041] The slurry, the functionalized bubble water, the collector, and the frother are mixed and floated to obtain gold concentrate.

[0042] It is important to note that the functionalized bubbles in the functionalized bubble water come into flotation contact with the slurry, causing gold or gold-loaded sulfide particles to selectively adhere to the bubbles near the bubble interface under the polarization and directional induction of the electronic state at the bubble interface. This enhances the flotation behavior of gold or gold-loaded sulfides.

[0043] The synergistic effect of interfacial electrical regulation and local electrochemical state changes on the mineral surface reduces the interfacial energy barrier during the bubble-mineral attachment process. When functionalized bubbles in functionalized bubble water approach gold or gold-loaded sulfide particles, a local electric field is formed at the interfacial scale, inducing orientation adjustment and polarization response of the electron cloud on the mineral surface. Due to the high polarizability of the electronic structure on the surface of gold and gold-loaded sulfides, these minerals exhibit a stronger response to interfacial electrical changes, thereby generating an enhanced attraction at the bubble-mineral interface.

[0044] It should also be noted that functionalized bubble water, under low-dose collector conditions, can significantly enhance the adhesion and stable retention of gold minerals on the bubble surface, and allows for further reduction of collector dosage under certain ore conditions; the interfacial electronic state formed under electrochemical control conditions is a controllable transient interfacial state, and the action time and intensity of functionalized bubble water are insufficient to cause substantial changes in the mineral lattice structure or mineral surface chemical composition, thereby ensuring the stability and repeatability of the flotation system.

[0045] Electrochemically regulated bubble interfaces can polarize and orient the electron cloud on the surface of gold or gold-loaded sulfides. Thus, based on conventional hydrophobic interactions, the selective interfacial adhesion between gold or gold-loaded sulfides and bubbles is enhanced through the synergistic effect of the interfacial electronic states, thereby increasing the probability of effective adhesion.

[0046] This application focuses on the bubble interface as the core control target. By adjusting the electronic state of the bubble interface through an applied potential, a functionalized interface with stable charge distribution and interfacial polarization characteristics is formed. This enhances the interfacial interaction between bubbles and gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles, increasing the probability of collision and adhesion between fine mineral particles and bubbles. Under conditions of low collector dosage, it not only improves the overall flotation recovery rate of gold but also significantly enhances the recovery efficiency of fine-grained gold and improves the stability of the flotation process. This method has mild process conditions, is applicable to various types of gold ores and gold-loaded sulfide systems, and has good prospects for industrial application.

[0047] In some embodiments, particles with a fineness of -0.074 mm account for 70%-85% of the slurry;

[0048] Optionally, the particles with a fineness of -0.074 mm in the slurry can be any value between 70%, 75%, 80%, 85%, or 70-85%;

[0049] And / or, the solid content of the slurry is 25%-35%.

[0050] Optionally, the solid content of the slurry can be any value between 25%, 30%, 35%, or 25-35%.

[0051] It is important to note that by properly controlling the grinding regime, while ensuring the full liberation of gold or gold-bearing minerals, it is crucial to avoid over-grinding leading to mud formation, thus providing stable pulp conditions for subsequent bubble interface control and flotation processes.

[0052] In some embodiments, the applied potential of the working electrode is controlled within the range of -0.3 to -1.2V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode.

[0053] Optionally, the applied potential of the working electrode relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode can be any value between -0.3, -0.2, -0.1, 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1, 1.2, or -0.3-1.2V.

[0054] Preferably, a positive external potential is applied to make the bubble interface exhibit a high interface potential and electronic activity state, so as to enhance the interface-induced adsorption capacity of the bubble for gold or gold-loaded sulfides.

[0055] It should be noted that in the scheme of this application, the applied potential is controlled within the range of -0.3-1.2 V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode. It should be explained that the applied potential is applied to the bubble-water system used for micro / nano bubble generation. By setting a working electrode, a reference electrode, and a counter electrode during bubble generation or transport, the electrical bilayer structure of the bubble-water interface is modulated, thereby changing the charge density and interfacial potential distribution on the bubble surface, transforming the bubble from a conventional weakly negatively charged state into an active bubble interface with tunable charge characteristics.

[0056] When the applied potential is below -0.3 V, the electric field strength is weak, and the disturbance to the electric bilayer structure at the bubble interface is limited, making it difficult to significantly change the charge characteristics of the bubble surface. When the applied potential is above 1.2 V, significant electrolytic reactions may occur in the bubble-water system, such as enhanced hydrogen evolution or oxygen evolution reactions, thus affecting the stability of the bubble structure. Therefore, controlling the applied potential within the range of -0.3 to 1.2 V can effectively regulate the electrical properties of the bubble interface while ensuring the stability of the bubble system. The bubble system after potential regulation is then added to the pulp for flotation. Its interfacial electrical properties can enhance the electrostatic adsorption and interfacial interaction between the bubbles and gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles, thereby strengthening the flotation effect.

[0057] In some embodiments, the electrochemical regulation is achieved through an electrochemical bubble generator and / or an electrode-assisted bubble regulation device.

[0058] It is important to note that electrochemical regulation places bubbles in a controllable electrochemical environment during their formation or existence, thereby regulating and enhancing the bubble interface state. Through these electrochemical regulation conditions, a stable and tunable interfacial potential distribution, electron density gradient, and interfacial electronic state are formed at the bubble-water interface, thus altering the interfacial electrical properties and polarization characteristics of the bubble surface. Electrochemical regulation primarily acts on the highly polarizable bubble-water interface, and its regulation process mainly involves adjusting the electronic state of the bubble interface. Under the aforementioned control conditions, it does not significantly affect the overall chemical state of the mineral surface.

[0059] In some embodiments, the oxidation-reduction potential of the functionalized sparkling water is 150-450 mV;

[0060] Optionally, the oxidation-reduction potential of the functionalized sparkling water can be 150 mV, 200 mV, 250 mV, 300 mV, 350 mV, 400 mV, 450 mV or any value between 150 and 450 mV;

[0061] It is important to note that the redox potential of functionalized sparkling water should be controlled within the range of 150-450 mV. Studies have found that when the redox potential of the sparkling water system is within this range, the electronic state and interfacial potential distribution at the bubble-water interface remain relatively stable, which is beneficial for forming a functionalized bubble system with adjustable interfacial charge characteristics. When the redox potential is below 150 mV, the system's redox capacity is weak, the electronic state changes at the bubble interface are limited, and it is difficult to form a significant interfacial electron density gradient, resulting in insignificant effects on the electrical regulation of the bubble interface. Conversely, when the redox potential is above 450 mV, the system's oxidizing power increases, which may lead to an increase in side reactions in the solution, thus affecting the stability of the bubble interface. Therefore, controlling the redox potential of functionalized sparkling water within the range of 150-450 mV allows for effective regulation of the electronic state and interfacial potential distribution at the bubble interface while ensuring system stability. This enables the bubble surface to form certain interfacial polarization characteristics, thereby enhancing the interfacial interaction between the bubbles and gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles and strengthening the flotation effect.

[0062] And / or, the pH of the flotation is 6.0-9.0.

[0063] Optionally, the pH for flotation can be any value between 6, 7, 8, 9, or 6-9.

[0064] It is important to note that under these pH conditions, the electrical bilayer structure of the bubble-water interface remains relatively stable, and the surface charge of the bubbles is relatively stable, which is beneficial for maintaining the interfacial potential distribution and polarization characteristics formed by electrochemical regulation. When the pulp pH is below 6.0, the system is highly acidic, which may lead to dissolution or oxidation reactions on the mineral surface, thus affecting the mineral surface properties. When the pH is above 9.0, the system becomes more alkaline, which may cause the formation of hydroxide deposits on the mineral surface or change the surface charge of the minerals, which is detrimental to the interfacial interaction between bubbles and mineral particles. Therefore, controlling the flotation pH within the range of 6.0-9.0 can maintain the stability of the mineral surface properties while preserving the interfacial charge of the bubbles, thereby enhancing the interfacial adsorption between bubbles and gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles, increasing the bubble-mineral adhesion probability, and strengthening the flotation process.

[0065] Within the aforementioned potential, ORP (redox potential), and pH control range, the energy density and timescale provided by electrochemical regulation are insufficient to cause substantial changes in the mineral lattice structure or surface chemical composition; the mineral as a whole retains its original chemical state. Conversely, bubbles, as transient gas-liquid interfaces with high specific surface areas, exhibit a more responsive interfacial electronic structure to the applied electric field, thus preferentially leading to interfacial polarization and electron distribution regulation.

[0066] In some embodiments, the interfacial electronic state of the functionalized bubble water includes one or more of the following: interfacial polarization characteristics of the bubble interface, non-uniform charge distribution, and electron enrichment state.

[0067] It is important to note that the interfacial electronic state of functionalized bubbles is mainly manifested in the regulation of bubble interfacial electrical properties, specifically in changes in bubble zeta potential, modulation of interfacial charge density, and enhancement of interfacial polarization adsorption. Changes in bubble zeta potential refer to the adjustment of the electric bilayer structure of the bubble-water interface under electrochemical regulation, causing a change in the bubble surface zeta potential and thus altering the electrical characteristics of the bubble surface. Modulation of interfacial charge density refers to the change in the charge distribution state of the bubble interface, creating regions of different charge densities on the bubble surface, thereby affecting the interfacial interaction between the bubble and mineral particles. Enhanced interfacial polarization adsorption refers to the polarization effect generated at the bubble interface under the action of an electrochemical environment, making it easier for stable interfacial adsorption structures to form when the bubble approaches the mineral particles. Through the above-mentioned regulation of interfacial electrical properties, the electrostatic adsorption and interfacial interaction between bubbles and gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles can be enhanced, increasing the adhesion probability of bubbles to mineral particles and thus strengthening the flotation effect.

[0068] In some embodiments, the collector includes butyl xanthate and / or benzoin;

[0069] And / or, the foaming agent includes #2 oil.

[0070] In some embodiments, the flotation includes coarse flotation, fine flotation, and sweep flotation;

[0071] It should be noted that the amount of collector used in the flotation process of this application is reduced by 40% to 70% compared with conventional flotation processes, and stable recovery of gold can still be achieved under low collector conditions.

[0072] The number of scans is 1 or 2;

[0073] The selection process is conducted at least twice.

[0074] Optionally, the number of selections can be any value of 2, 3, 4 or at least 2.

[0075] In some embodiments, the selection also includes an inhibitor, which comprises water glass.

[0076] In some embodiments, during the roughing process, the amount of collector used is 15-115 g / t slurry, the amount of frother used is 20-40 g / t slurry, and the time is 8-10 min.

[0077] Optionally, during roughing, the amount of collector can be 15 g / t pulp, 20 g / t pulp, 30 g / t pulp, 40 g / t pulp, 50 g / t pulp, 60 g / t pulp, 90 g / t pulp, 115 g / t pulp, or any value between 15 and 115 g / t pulp; the amount of frother can be 20 g / t pulp, 30 g / t pulp, 40 g / t pulp, or any value between 20 and 40 g / t pulp; and the time can be any value between 8 min, 9 min, 10 min, or 8 and 10 min.

[0078] And / or, during each scavenging operation, the amount of the collector is 5-20 g / t slurry, the amount of the frother is 5-10 g / t slurry, and the time is 4-6 min;

[0079] Optionally, during each scavenging operation, the amount of collector can be 5 g / t slurry, 10 g / t slurry, 15 g / t slurry, 20 g / t slurry, or any value between 5 and 20 g / t slurry; the amount of frother can be 5 g / t slurry, 6 g / t slurry, 7 g / t slurry, 8 g / t slurry, 9 g / t slurry, 10 g / t slurry, or any value between 5 and 10 g / t slurry; and the time can be any value between 4 min, 5 min, 6 min, or 4-6 min.

[0080] And / or, during each of the aforementioned selection processes, the amount of the inhibitor used is 100-250 g / t slurry, and the time is 5-12 min.

[0081] Optionally, during each refining process, the amount of inhibitor can be 100 g / t slurry, 150 g / t slurry, 200 g / t slurry, 250 g / t slurry, or any value between 100 and 250 g / t slurry, and the time can be any value between 5 min, 6 min, 7 min, 8 min, 9 min, 10 min, 11 min, 12 min, or 5-12 min.

[0082] It is important to note that this application does not rely on plasma discharge or mineral surface modification. Instead, it uses the electronic state of the bubble-water interface as an independent and primary controllable object. Through low-energy and controllable electrochemical means, a functionalized bubble system with specific interfacial potential distribution and electronic activity is constructed. Without inducing overall chemical modification of the mineral, the interfacial interaction between the bubble and gold or gold-loaded sulfides is directly enhanced. By directionally adjusting the electronic structure and interfacial electrical state of the bubble-water interface, the interfacial interaction ability of the bubbles in the conventional flotation system is enhanced. Thus, with weak dependence on mineral surface enhancement modification, the flotation behavior of gold or gold-loaded sulfides is enhanced and regulated, improving the flotation recovery rate and flotation stability of gold. This results in enhanced selectivity for gold flotation under low collector conditions.

[0083] This application adopts a process structure of "electronic state control of bubble interface + conventional flotation recovery", which can be directly embedded into the existing gold ore flotation process. Based on the traditional flotation mechanism, it introduces electronic state control of bubble interface to enhance the regulation of gold flotation behavior; it enhances the interfacial interaction capability of bubble interface through electrochemical means, enabling bubbles to play a stronger interfacial synergistic role in the flotation process; it can still achieve effective gold recovery under low collector or no collector conditions, reduce reagent consumption and improve flotation stability; the process conditions are mild and the process structure is compatible with conventional flotation processes, showing good prospects for industrial application.

[0084] The implementation schemes of this application will be described in detail below with reference to specific embodiments. However, those skilled in the art will understand that the following embodiments are only for illustrating this application and should not be regarded as limiting the scope of this application. Unless otherwise specified in the embodiments, conventional conditions or conditions recommended by the manufacturer shall apply. Reagents or instruments used without specified manufacturers are all conventional products that can be purchased commercially.

[0085] Example 1

[0086] This embodiment provides a gold-enhanced flotation method based on the electronic state regulation of the bubble interface using electrochemical methods. This embodiment uses a porphyry-type associated gold deposit in Hubei Province. The ore contains approximately 22% chalcopyrite, 12% chalcocite, and 2.8 g / t of native gold. Gold is mainly found on the surface of chalcopyrite and in the fissures of chalcocite, exhibiting high surface electronic activity and readily forming a gold-copper-sulfur interface structure. Some gold particles are encapsulated by galena, accounting for approximately 6% of the total gold content. Gold indirectly found in sphalerite accounts for approximately 4%. Gangue mainly consists of quartz and calcite, accounting for approximately 62% of the total ore. The ore has a medium hardness (Mohs 3-3.5) and a water content of approximately 1.2%. The specific steps are as follows:

[0087] S1: Grinding and Slurry Preparation: After crushing, the ore is fed into a ball mill for grinding. The grinding fineness is controlled to be -0.074mm, accounting for 78%, and a slurry is prepared with a solids content of 32%.

[0088] S2: Construction of an electrochemically regulated functionalized bubble system: Deionized water is pumped into a micro / nano bubble generator for micro / nano bubble treatment to obtain bubble water. The bubble water is then introduced into an electrochemically regulated bubble system. An external potential is applied using an electrode-assisted bubble regulation device. The external potential is controlled at -0.1 to +1.0V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode to obtain functionalized bubble water. The ORP of the functionalized bubble water is controlled at +230mV. Through this treatment, the bubbles form a functionalized interface with interfacial potential distribution and electron enrichment state, which can selectively adsorb gold minerals in the subsequent flotation process.

[0089] S3: Flotation recovery of gold concentrate: Add the above-mentioned bubble water, a combined collector of 90g / t xanthate and 25g / t black powder, and 28g / t of frother 2# oil to the slurry. Control the pH at 7.8, stir for 1-2 minutes, and then carry out roughing for 9 minutes to obtain rough concentrate and roughing tailings. Scavenging 1 is performed on the roughing tailings: 18g / t collector and 6g / t frother are added, and flotation is carried out for 5 minutes to obtain scavenging 1 concentrate and scavenging 1 tailings. Scavenging 2: Add 12g / t of collector and 4g / t of frother, float for 4min to obtain scavenging 2 concentrate and tailings; cleavage 1: Add 180g / t of water glass, float for 9min to obtain cleavage 1 concentrate and cleavage 1 tailings; then cleavage 2: Add 70g / t of water glass, float for 7min to obtain cleavage 2 concentrate and cleavage 2 tailings; finally cleavage 3: Add 35g / t of water glass, float for 5min to obtain gold concentrate.

[0090] The flowchart of this gold-enhanced flotation method based on the electronic state modulation of the electrochemical bubble interface is shown below. Figure 1 As shown.

[0091] Example 2

[0092] This embodiment provides a gold-enhanced flotation method based on the electronic state regulation of the electrochemical bubble interface. The method used is a sandstone-type gold deposit in Henan Province. The ore contains approximately 2.5 g / t of native gold, which is mainly distributed as particulate matter and adsorbed on the surface of quartz and trace amounts of pyrite particles. The gangue consists of quartz and calcite, accounting for approximately 70% of the total ore. The specific steps are as follows:

[0093] S1: Grinding and slurry preparation: After crushing, the ore is fed into a ball mill for grinding, and the grinding fineness is controlled to be -0.074mm, accounting for 82%, to prepare slurry with a solid content of 28%.

[0094] S2: Construction of an electrochemically regulated functionalized bubble system: Deionized water is pumped into a micro / nano bubble generator for micro / nano bubble treatment to obtain bubble water. The bubble water is then introduced into an electrochemically regulated bubble system. An external potential is applied using an electrode-assisted bubble regulation device. The external potential is controlled from 0 to +1.0V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode to obtain functionalized bubble water. The ORP of the functionalized bubble water is controlled at +250mV. Through this treatment, the bubbles form a functionalized interface with interfacial potential distribution and electron enrichment state, which can selectively adsorb gold minerals in the subsequent flotation process.

[0095] S3: Flotation recovery of gold concentrate: Add the above-mentioned aerated water, 15g / t of xanthate, and 10g / t of frother No. 2 oil to the slurry, control the pH at 7.8, stir for 1-2 minutes, and then carry out roughing flotation for 9 minutes to obtain rough concentrate and roughing tailings; the rough concentrate is then subjected to fine treatment I: add 180g / t of water glass, float for 9 minutes to obtain fine treatment I concentrate and fine treatment I tailings; fine treatment II: add 70g / t of water glass, float for 7 minutes to obtain fine treatment II concentrate and fine treatment II tailings; fine treatment III: add 35g / t of water glass, float for 5 minutes to finally obtain gold concentrate.

[0096] Example 3

[0097] The difference from Example 1 is that during step S2, the applied potential is controlled at 0.8-1.2V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode to obtain functionalized sparkling water, and the ORP of the functionalized sparkling water is controlled at 320mV.

[0098] Comparative Example 1

[0099] The difference from Example 1 is that step S2 is omitted, and the slurry prepared in step S1 is floated according to step S3, but bubble water is not added.

[0100] Comparative Example 2

[0101] The difference from Example 2 is that step S2 is omitted, and the slurry prepared in step S1 is floated according to step S3, but bubble water is not added.

[0102] Comparative Example 3

[0103] The difference from Example 1 is that during step S2, the applied potential is controlled at -0.1-0.2V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode to obtain functionalized sparkling water, and the ORP of the functionalized sparkling water is controlled at 90mV.

[0104] Comparative Example 4

[0105] The difference from Example 1 is that during step S2, the applied potential is controlled at -1.5-1.9V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode to obtain functionalized sparkling water, and the ORP of the functionalized sparkling water is controlled at 470mV.

[0106] Comparative Example 5

[0107] The difference from Example 1 is that the pH of the slurry is 11.5 during step S3.

[0108] The gold recovery rate and grade of the gold concentrates prepared in the above examples and comparative examples were tested, and the specific data are shown in Table 1.

[0109] Table 1 Gold Recovery Rate and Grade

[0110]

[0111] Note: Gold recovery rate refers to the proportion of all gold elements in the raw ore that are recovered into the concentrate during the flotation process. It is an important technical indicator for evaluating the overall recovery effect of the flotation process. This indicator can comprehensively reflect the influence of factors such as grinding conditions, reagent system, and bubble-mineral interface interaction on the flotation behavior of gold minerals. In mineral processing research and industrial production, gold recovery rate is usually used to evaluate the overall separation efficiency of the process and the comprehensive utilization level of gold resources. Fine gold recovery rate refers to the proportion of fine gold particles (usually gold with a particle size of less than 20-37 μm) in the raw ore that enter the concentrate during the flotation process. It is used to characterize the flotation system's ability to recover fine-grained gold minerals. Because fine gold particles have a large specific surface area and small mass, they have a low probability of colliding with and adhering to bubbles during the flotation process, and are often difficult to recover effectively. Therefore, fine gold recovery rate is an important indicator for evaluating the effect of enhanced flotation technology. In many gold-bearing ores, some gold exists in the form of fine particles or inclusions, which are difficult to effectively collect during conventional flotation processes, resulting in gold loss in the tailings. This application utilizes electrochemical modulation of the electronic state of the bubble interface to impart more stable charge characteristics and interfacial polarization properties, thereby enhancing the interfacial interaction between the bubbles and fine gold particles and improving the adhesion and collection capabilities of fine-grained gold minerals. Therefore, in evaluating the technical effectiveness of this application, in addition to considering the overall gold recovery rate, a fine gold recovery rate index is introduced to more intuitively reflect the technical advantages of this application in enhancing the recovery of fine-grained gold.

[0112] analyze:

[0113] As can be seen from the above tests, compared with flotation methods that do not employ electrochemically controlled bubble systems, the gold-enhanced flotation method based on electrochemical bubble interface electronic state control proposed in this application can significantly improve the flotation recovery effect of gold minerals.

[0114] In Example 1, an electrochemically regulated bubble system was constructed under an applied potential of -0.1 to -1.0 V, resulting in a functionalized interface with a stable potential distribution and electron enrichment characteristics at the bubble interface. Under these conditions, the gold recovery rate reached 84.5%, significantly higher than that of Comparative Example 1 (72.3%), which did not use a bubble-water system. Simultaneously, the recovery rate of fine gold was also significantly improved, indicating that the electrochemically regulated bubble interface enhances the interfacial interaction between the bubbles and gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles, increasing the probability of mineral particles adhering to the bubble surface, thereby improving the flotation recovery effect.

[0115] Example 2 shows a more significant difference compared to Comparative Example 2. In Comparative Example 2, without the functionalized bubble system, the gold recovery rate was only 41.5%, and the recovery rate of fine gold was 35.2%. However, in Example 2, after electrochemically regulating the formation of a bubble system with interfacial charge characteristics, the gold recovery rate increased to 68.2%, and the recovery rate of fine gold increased to 61.5%. These results demonstrate that the bubble interface electronic regulation system constructed in this application can significantly improve the collision and adhesion conditions between fine-grained gold minerals and bubbles, thereby significantly improving the recovery effect of fine-grained gold minerals.

[0116] Example 3 further demonstrates that increasing the applied potential within a certain range can further enhance the electronic activity of the bubble interface, making the charge distribution at the bubble interface more stable, thereby strengthening the interfacial adsorption of gold mineral particles by the bubbles. As a result, both the gold recovery rate and the recovery rate of fine gold are improved.

[0117] However, when the applied potential deviates from the appropriate range, the flotation effect will decrease significantly. For example, in Comparative Example 3, the applied potential is low, the electronic state regulation effect of the bubble interface is weak, and the charge characteristics of the bubble interface are not obvious, which leads to a decrease in the interfacial adsorption capacity between the bubbles and gold minerals, resulting in a lower gold recovery rate and a lower recovery rate of fine gold than in Example 1.

[0118] In Comparative Example 4, when the applied potential is too high, the redox potential of the system increases significantly, the mineral surface may be over-oxidized, and the stability of the bubble interface decreases, thereby weakening the effective adhesion between the bubbles and the gold minerals, ultimately leading to a decrease in flotation performance.

[0119] Furthermore, Comparative Example 5 shows that pulp pH conditions also have a significant impact on flotation efficiency. When the pulp pH increases to 11.5, the surface electrical properties of minerals and the adsorption behavior of collectors on mineral surfaces change, weakening the bubble-mineral interface interaction and resulting in a decrease in both gold recovery and fine gold recovery.

[0120] In summary, the results show that this application, through electrochemical modulation of the electronic state of the bubble interface, creates a functionalized interface with a stable potential distribution and interfacial polarization characteristics. This enhances the interfacial interaction between the bubbles and gold and gold-loaded sulfide particles, significantly improving the adhesion probability of fine gold particles and the flotation recovery rate. Compared with traditional flotation methods, this invention not only improves the overall gold recovery rate but also significantly enhances the recovery effect of fine-grained gold minerals, demonstrating promising application prospects.

[0121] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of this application, and are not intended to limit them. Although this application has been described in detail with reference to the foregoing embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications can still be made to the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments, or equivalent substitutions can be made to some or all of the technical features therein. Such modifications or substitutions do not cause the essence of the corresponding technical solutions to deviate from the scope of the technical solutions of the embodiments of this application.

[0122] Furthermore, those skilled in the art will understand that although some embodiments herein include certain features included in other embodiments but not others, combinations of features from different embodiments are intended to be within the scope of this application and form different embodiments. For example, any of the claimed embodiments can be used in any combination. The information disclosed in this background section is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of this application and should not be construed as an admission or in any way implying that such information constitutes prior art known to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A gold intensive flotation method based on electrochemical bubble interface electron state regulation, characterized in that, include: The gold-bearing ore is ground and pulped to obtain a slurry; Water is treated with micro-nano bubbles to obtain sparkling water; The sparkling water is electrochemically regulated by applying an external potential to obtain functionalized sparkling water. The slurry, the functionalized bubble water, the collector and the frother are mixed and floated to obtain gold concentrate; The applied potential of the working electrode is controlled within the range of -0.3 to -1.2V relative to the Ag / AgCl reference electrode; The oxidation-reduction potential of the functionalized sparkling water is 150-450mV; The pH of the flotation is 6.0-9.0; The interfacial electronic states of the functionalized sparkling water include one or more of the following: interfacial polarization characteristics of the bubble interface, non-uniform charge distribution, and electron enrichment state.

2. The gold intensive flotation process based on electrochemical bubble interface electron state modulation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The slurry contains 70%-85% particles with a fineness of -0.074 mm. And / or, the solid content of the slurry is 25%-35%.

3. The gold intensive flotation process based on electrochemical bubble interface electron state modulation according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collecting agent includes butyl xanthate and / or black powder; And / or, the foaming agent includes #2 oil.

4. The gold intensive flotation process based on electrochemical bubble interface electron state modulation according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that, The flotation process includes roughing, cleaning, and sweeping. The number of scans is 1 or 2; The selection process is conducted at least twice.

5. The gold intensive flotation process based on electrochemical bubble interface electron state modulation according to claim 4, characterized in that, The selected product also contains inhibitors, including water glass.

6. The gold intensive flotation process based on electrochemical bubble interface electronic state modulation according to claim 5, characterized in that, During the roughing process, the amount of collector used is 15-115 g / t slurry, the amount of frother used is 20-40 g / t slurry, and the time is 8-10 min. And / or, during each scavenging operation, the amount of the collector is 5-20 g / t slurry, the amount of the frother is 5-10 g / t slurry, and the time is 4-6 min; And / or, during each of the aforementioned selection processes, the amount of the inhibitor used is 100-250 g / t slurry, and the time is 5-12 min.

Images