A method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite

Abstract

This application provides a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite, relating to the field of mineral flotation. The method involves mixing and flotation of the minerals to be processed, including chalcopyrite and pyrite, with a chalcopyrite collector to obtain chalcopyrite concentrate and pyrite tailings. The general structural formula of the chalcopyrite collector is: [Formula omitted]. This chalcopyrite collector utilizes the high selective affinity of its propyne ester group for copper-active sites on the chalcopyrite surface and its inertness to iron sites on the pyrite surface, achieving precise identification and collection of chalcopyrite from the molecular structure of the reagent, significantly improving the grade and recovery rate of the copper concentrate. The R group is a hydrophobic group facing the pulp, significantly enhancing the surface hydrophobicity of the chalcopyrite particles, thereby enabling them to adhere to flotation bubbles and float.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This application relates to the field of mineral flotation, and more particularly to a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite. Background Technology

[0002] Copper, as a modern energy metal, is one of the most widely used metals in the world. Chalcopyrite, as the most important copper-bearing sulfide mineral, is the main source of copper extraction globally.

[0003] Chalcopyrite is usually closely associated with pyrite in nature, and the over-exploitation of sulfide ores has led to increasingly lower grades of copper sulfide ore. Flotation is the main method for separating chalcopyrite and pyrite, and the collector plays a crucial role in copper-sulfide flotation, making the surface of the target mineral hydrophobic. However, traditional flotation separation processes have many problems when handling the separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite.

[0004] First, traditional collectors have insufficient selectivity. Xanthates are the most common flotation collectors for sulfide ores, but xanthates have poor selectivity for chalcopyrite-pyrite. It is necessary to use a large amount of lime to inhibit pyrite in order to obtain qualified copper concentrate. This not only leads to high reagent costs and huge lime consumption, but also puts a heavy burden on subsequent wastewater treatment due to the high alkalinity of the slurry environment. At the same time, the low solubility of lime can easily cause scaling and blockage in pipelines.

[0005] In recent years, ethyl thiocyanate has been used as a novel chalcopyrite collector, exhibiting good selectivity for chalcopyrite and reducing the amount of lime used in the flotation process. However, its collecting capacity is relatively weak. This results in less than ideal separation efficiency when dealing with ore compositions that are complex and of low grade, making it difficult to achieve high copper recovery while ensuring the production of high-grade concentrate.

[0006] It is evident that existing flotation reagent systems suffer from drawbacks such as difficulty in balancing the selectivity and collecting capacity of the collector, and the need for large amounts of lime during the flotation process. Therefore, developing a novel chalcopyrite collector with strong collecting capacity and high selectivity, while reducing the amount of lime used in the flotation process, is of great significance for improving flotation efficiency, reducing production costs, and promoting the sustainable development of the non-ferrous metals industry. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The purpose of this application is to provide a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite to solve the problems of poor collector selectivity and heavy reliance on lime inhibitors in the prior art, and to improve the flotation separation selectivity of chalcopyrite and pyrite.

[0008] To achieve the above objectives, this application provides a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite, comprising: The minerals to be processed, including chalcopyrite and pyrite, are mixed and floated with a chalcopyrite collector to obtain chalcopyrite concentrate and pyrite tailings. The general structural formula of the chalcopyrite collector is: .

[0009] Optionally, R includes any one of substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted C3-C6 unsaturated hydrocarbon groups, and substituted or unsubstituted C5-C12 cycloalkyl groups.

[0010] Optionally, the substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group includes -CH2- or -(CH2). n - at least one of the following, where n is an integer from 3 to 6; And / or, the substituted or unsubstituted C3-C6 unsaturated hydrocarbon group includes at least one of -CH=CH-, -CH2-CH=CH-, -CH2-CH=CH-CH2-, and -(CH2)2-CH=CH-CH2-; And / or, the substituted or unsubstituted C5-C12 cycloalkyl group includes at least one of cyclobutane, cyclopentane, and cyclohexane.

[0011] Optionally, R includes at least one of the substituted or unsubstituted aromatic groups and branched alkyl groups; The aromatic group includes at least one of phenyl, naphthyl, tolyl, and xylyl; The branched alkyl group includes at least one selected from isopropyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, and isopentyl. Optionally, during the flotation, the amount of the chalcopyrite collector used is 30-200 g / t of raw ore.

[0012] Optionally, a frother is also added during the flotation process; The raw materials of the foaming agent, by weight, include: 40-70 parts of methyl isobutyl methanol, 20-40 parts of pine oil, and 5-20 parts of polyethylene glycol.

[0013] Optionally, the amount of foaming agent used is 10-80 g / t of raw ore.

[0014] Optionally, the flotation process may also include the addition of inhibitors; The raw materials for the inhibitor, by weight, include: lime: 50-80 parts, sodium sulfite: 15-35 parts, and sodium sulfide: 5-15 parts.

[0015] Optionally, the amount of the inhibitor used is 500-1000 g / t of raw ore.

[0016] Optionally, the pH of the flotation is 6-11.

[0017] Compared with the prior art, the beneficial effects of this application include: The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite provided in this application utilizes the high selective affinity of its propyne ester group for copper active sites on the chalcopyrite surface and its inertness to iron sites on the pyrite surface. This achieves precise identification and collection of chalcopyrite from the molecular structure of the reagent, significantly improving the grade and recovery rate of copper concentrate. The R group is a hydrophobic group facing the pulp, which significantly enhances the surface hydrophobicity of chalcopyrite particles, enabling them to adhere to flotation bubbles and float. This method can achieve efficient recovery of chalcopyrite under conditions of low lime dosage or no lime. It is simple to operate, has a wide range of raw material sources, and produces stable product quality, making it suitable for large-scale industrial production. It can improve the comprehensive utilization rate of copper resources in minerals, reduce the environmental impact during the development and utilization of low-grade resources, and can be widely applied in the field of mineral flotation. Attached Figure Description

[0018] 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.

[0019] Figure 1 This is a photograph of the flotation concentrate provided in Example 1. Detailed Implementation

[0020] First, the solution provided in this application will be explained in more detail as follows: The first aspect of this application provides a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite, comprising: The minerals to be processed, including chalcopyrite and pyrite, are mixed and floated with a chalcopyrite collector to obtain chalcopyrite concentrate and pyrite tailings. The general structural formula of the chalcopyrite collector is: .

[0021] It is important to note that the propargyl ester group exhibits a strong chemical affinity and high selectivity for the copper-active sites on the chalcopyrite surface, enabling preferential and robust chemisorption onto the chalcopyrite surface. However, it hardly interacts with the iron-active sites on the pyrite surface. This is because the propargyl ester group of the collector selectively adsorbs onto the chalcopyrite surface.

[0022] In some embodiments, R includes any one of substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted C3-C6 unsaturated hydrocarbon groups, and substituted or unsubstituted C5-C12 cycloalkyl groups.

[0023] Optionally, R may include any one of the following: substituted or unsubstituted alkyl groups of C1, C2, C3, C4, C5, and C6; substituted or unsubstituted unsaturated hydrocarbon groups of C3, C4, C5, and C6; or substituted or unsubstituted cycloalkyl groups of C5, C6, C7, C8, C9, C10, C11, and C12.

[0024] In some embodiments, the substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl group includes -CH2- or -(CH2). n - at least one of the following, where n is an integer from 3 to 6; Optionally, n can be any positive integer from 3, 4, 5, 6, or 3-6; And / or, the substituted or unsubstituted C3-C6 unsaturated hydrocarbon group includes at least one of -CH=CH-, -CH2-CH=CH-, -CH2-CH=CH-CH2-, and -(CH2)2-CH=CH-CH2-; And / or, the substituted or unsubstituted C5-C12 cycloalkyl group includes at least one of cyclobutane, cyclopentane, and cyclohexane.

[0025] In some embodiments, R includes at least one of substituted or unsubstituted aromatic groups and branched alkyl groups; The substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group includes at least one of phenyl, naphthyl, tolyl, and xylyl. The branched alkyl group includes at least one of isopropyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, and isopentyl.

[0026] It should be noted that the reason why aromatic groups and branched alkyl groups are preferred is that aromatic groups (such as benzene rings) have π electron delocalization characteristics, which can form stronger coordination with copper active sites on the surface of chalcopyrite. Through the feedback π bond, the adsorption selectivity of the collector on the surface of chalcopyrite is enhanced, while the adsorption effect on the surface of pyrite is weaker, thereby achieving highly selective collection of chalcopyrite. Branched alkyl groups possess strong hydrophobicity, effectively increasing the hydrophobic properties of the collector, promoting the adhesion of mineral particles to bubbles, and improving flotation recovery. Simultaneously, the branched structure reduces steric hindrance between collector molecules, facilitating their directional arrangement on the mineral surface. In some embodiments, the amount of chalcopyrite collector used during flotation is 30-200 g / t of raw ore.

[0027] Optionally, during flotation, the amount of chalcopyrite collector used can be 30 g / t raw ore, 50 g / t raw ore, 100 g / t raw ore, 150 g / t raw ore, 200 g / t raw ore, or any value between 30 and 200 g / t raw ore.

[0028] In some embodiments, a foaming agent is also added to the flotation process; The raw materials of the foaming agent, by weight, include: 40-70 parts of methyl isobutyl methanol, 20-40 parts of pine oil, and 5-20 parts of polyethylene glycol.

[0029] Optionally, the raw materials of the foaming agent, by weight, may be any value between 40, 45, 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 or 40-70 parts of methyl isobutyl methanol, any value between 20, 25, 30, 35, 40 or 20-40 parts of pine oil, and any value between 5, 10, 15, 20 or 5-20 parts of polyethylene glycol.

[0030] It should be noted that the foaming agent composition has the following beneficial effects: (1) Synergistic foaming effect: Methyl isobutyl methanol is the main foaming agent, which has strong foaming properties and moderate foam size; pine oil can increase the stability and durability of foam and prevent premature foam breakage; polyethylene glycol can adjust the fineness and uniformity of foam. The three work together to form a stable, uniform foam layer with moderate size, which is conducive to the adhesion and floating of mineral particles; (2) Synergistic effect with collector: When the foaming agent composition is used in combination with the chalcopyrite collector of the present invention, it can significantly improve the dispersibility and adsorption efficiency of the collector in the slurry. The polar groups in the foaming agent can form hydrogen bonds or van der Waals forces with the collector molecules, promote the enrichment of the collector at the gas-liquid interface, enhance the selective adsorption of the collector on the surface of chalcopyrite, thereby improving the grade and recovery rate of copper concentrate; (3) Synergistic effect with inhibitor: When the foaming agent composition is used in combination with the inhibitor, it can ensure the effective floating of chalcopyrite while inhibiting pyrite. The appropriate dosage and reasonable ratio of the frother can avoid excessive foam from carrying pyrite particles, thereby improving the separation accuracy and reducing the impurity content in the concentrate; (4) Environmental protection and economy: the components of the frother composition are widely available and reasonably priced, and the ideal flotation effect can be achieved with a small amount of dosage, which has good prospects for industrial application.

[0031] In some embodiments, the amount of foaming agent used is 10-80 g / t of raw ore.

[0032] Optionally, the amount of foaming agent can be 10 g / t raw ore, 15 g / t raw ore, 20 g / t raw ore, 25 g / t raw ore, 30 g / t raw ore, 35 g / t raw ore, 40 g / t raw ore, 45 g / t raw ore, 50 g / t raw ore, 55 g / t raw ore, 60 g / t raw ore, 65 g / t raw ore, 70 g / t raw ore, 75 g / t raw ore, 80 g / t raw ore, or any value between 10 and 80 g / t raw ore.

[0033] Preferably, the amount of foaming agent used is 20-50 g / t of raw ore.

[0034] In some embodiments, the flotation process further includes the addition of inhibitors; The raw materials for the inhibitor, by weight, include: 50-80 parts lime, 15-35 parts sodium sulfite, and 5-15 parts sodium sulfide.

[0035] Optionally, the raw materials for the inhibitor, by weight, may be any value between 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, 80, or 50-80 parts of lime; any value between 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, or 15-35 parts of sodium sulfide; and any value between 5, 10, 15, or 5-15 parts of sodium sulfide.

[0036] It should be noted that the inhibitor composition has the following beneficial effects: (1) Synergistic sulfur inhibition: Lime, as the main inhibitor, increases the pH value of the slurry to generate a hydrophilic iron hydroxide film on the surface of pyrite, inhibiting its floatability; Sodium sulfite can form a sulfite adsorption layer on the surface of pyrite, further enhancing the inhibition effect on pyrite; Sodium sulfide can prevent oxidation of the chalcopyrite surface, and at the same time, it works synergistically with lime and sodium sulfite to form a multi-layered inhibition barrier, achieving highly efficient selective inhibition of pyrite; (2) Synergistic effect with the collector: When the inhibitor composition is used in conjunction with the chalcopyrite collector of the present invention, it can significantly improve the flotation selectivity. The inhibitor preferentially acts on the surface of pyrite, making it hydrophilic, while the selective functional groups in the collector are directionally adsorbed on the copper active sites on the surface of chalcopyrite. The two work together to achieve highly efficient separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite. When the dosage of inhibitor is moderate, excessive inhibition of chalcopyrite can be avoided, ensuring a high copper recovery rate; (3) Synergistic effect with frother: When the inhibitor composition is used in combination with the frother, the inhibitor causes pyrite to sink hydrophilically, reducing the amount of pyrite particles entrained in the foam, while the frother provides a stable foam layer to support the chalcopyrite to float. The combination of the three can effectively reduce the sulfur content in the concentrate, improve the grade of copper concentrate, and ensure a high recovery rate; (4) Strong process adaptability: The inhibitor composition is suitable for copper-sulfur ores from different origins and with different dissemination characteristics. It has strong adaptability to changes in slurry temperature and water quality, is easy to operate, has a wide range of reagent sources, and is low in cost, with good prospects for industrial application.

[0037] In some embodiments, the amount of the inhibitor used is 500-1000 g / t of raw ore.

[0038] Optionally, the dosage of the inhibitor can be 500 g / t raw ore, 600 g / t raw ore, 700 g / t raw ore, 800 g / t raw ore, 900 g / t raw ore, 1000 g / t raw ore, or any value between 500 and 1000 g / t raw ore.

[0039] In some embodiments, the pH of the flotation is 6-11.

[0040] Optionally, the pH for flotation can be any value between 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10, 10.5, 11, or 6-11.

[0041] It should be noted that the flotation method for separating chalcopyrite and pyrite provided in this application can achieve efficient flotation in a wide pH range of 6-11. When flotation is carried out under conditions of weak acid to moderate alkalinity (6-9), the heavy reliance on lime (CaO) in traditional processes (pH>10.5) can be significantly reduced or avoided. This not only greatly reduces reagent costs, but also avoids the environmental impact of strong alkaline slurry and the problem of pipe scaling.

[0042] Preferably, the pH of the flotation is 8-10.

[0043] It should be noted that the preferred pH range of 8-10 has the following advantages: (1) Synergistic effect with the collector: Under alkaline conditions of pH 8-10, the active functional groups in the chalcopyrite collector of the present invention can maintain a good dissociation state and chemical activity, which is conducive to the directional adsorption and coordination of the collector molecules on the chalcopyrite surface. At the same time, this pH range avoids the destruction of the collector molecular structure by strong alkaline conditions, ensuring the selectivity and stability of the collector; (2) Synergistic effect with the inhibitor: Under pH 8-10 conditions, inhibitors such as lime and sodium sulfite can form a stable hydrophilic oxide layer on the pyrite surface, achieving effective inhibition of pyrite, while avoiding the inhibitory effect of excessively high pH values ​​on chalcopyrite. This pH range ensures the effectiveness of the inhibitor while reducing the amount of lime used, thus reducing reagent costs and the risk of pipe scaling; (3) Optimization of mineral surface characteristics: Chalcopyrite maintains good hydrophobicity under this pH condition, which is conducive to the adsorption of the collector and the adhesion of bubbles; while pyrite is easily oxidized under this condition to form a hydrophilic layer. The surface properties of the two are significantly different, which is conducive to improving the separation selectivity; (4) Process and environmental advantages: This pH range avoids the corrosion of equipment and pipelines by strong acid and strong alkali environments, reducing the safety risks to operators; at the same time, it reduces the amount of lime used, reduces the difficulty of tailings water treatment and environmental pressure, and has good economic and environmental benefits. In some embodiments, the flotation includes roughing, cleaning and scavenging; The roughing process includes: mixing the minerals to be processed, which contain chalcopyrite and pyrite, with the chalcopyrite collector and performing roughing to obtain chalcopyrite roughing concentrate and pyrite roughing tailings. The scavenging includes: scavenging the pyrite roughing tailings; The refining process includes refining the roughing concentrate of the chalcopyrite.

[0044] 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.

[0045] Example 1 This embodiment provides a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite. The minerals to be processed, containing chalcopyrite and pyrite, are copper-sulfur type ore (raw ore). The raw ore contains approximately 0.40% copper and approximately 4.72% sulfur. The copper minerals in the ore are mainly chalcopyrite, followed by bornite, and contain a small amount of chalcopyrite. The iron minerals are mainly pyrite, with a small amount of pyrrhotite as an associated mineral. The gangue minerals are mainly quartz, followed by albite, illite, and chlorite, and contain a small amount of carbonate minerals such as dolomite and calcite. The specific steps are as follows: After mixing the raw ore with water, the ore is ground to obtain a slurry with a concentration of 27% and a grinding fineness of -0.074 mm (63%). 120 g / t of raw chalcopyrite collector C1, 20 g / t of raw ore frother composition (composed of methyl isobutyl methanol, pine oil, and polyethylene glycol in a weight ratio of 60:30:10), and 300 g / t of raw ore depressant composition (composed of lime, sodium sulfite, and sodium sulfide in a weight ratio of 65:25:10) are added to the slurry. The pH of the slurry is adjusted to 8.5 using lime. A roughing operation is then performed for 5 minutes. Through the selective adsorption and hydrophobic modification of chalcopyrite by the collector, the chalcopyrite particles adhere to the flotation bubbles and float to the surface, ultimately yielding a concentrate mainly composed of chalcopyrite and tailings mainly composed of pyrite.

[0046] The structural formula of chalcopyrite collector C1 is as follows: .

[0047] The concentrate obtained from the flotation is as follows: Figure 1 As shown.

[0048] Example 2 This embodiment provides a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite, wherein the raw ore used is the same as in Embodiment 1, and the specific steps are as follows: After mixing the raw ore with water, the ore is ground to obtain a slurry with a concentration of 27% and a grinding fineness of -0.074 mm (63%). 90 g / t of raw ore collector C2, 15 g / t of raw ore frother composition (composed of methyl isobutyl methanol, pine oil, and polyethylene glycol in a weight ratio of 55:35:10), and 350 g / t of raw ore depressant composition (composed of lime, sodium sulfite, and sodium sulfide in a weight ratio of 70:20:10) are added to the slurry. The pH of the slurry is adjusted to 7.5 using lime. A roughing operation is then performed for 5 minutes. Through the selective adsorption and hydrophobic modification of chalcopyrite by the collector, the chalcopyrite particles adhere to the flotation bubbles and float to the surface, ultimately yielding a concentrate mainly composed of chalcopyrite and tailings mainly composed of pyrite.

[0049] The structural formula of chalcopyrite collector C2 is as follows: .

[0050] Example 3 This embodiment provides a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite, wherein the raw ore used is the same as in Embodiment 1, and the specific steps are as follows: After mixing the raw ore with water, the ore is ground to obtain a slurry with a concentration of 27% and a grinding fineness of -0.074 mm (63% of the ore is 0.074 mm). 100 g / t of raw ore collector C3, 18 g / t of raw ore frother composition (composed of methyl isobutyl methanol, pine oil, and polyethylene glycol in a weight ratio of 50:35:15), and 280 g / t of raw ore depressant composition (composed of lime, sodium sulfite, and sodium sulfide in a weight ratio of 60:30:10) are added to the slurry. The pH of the slurry is adjusted to 8.0 using lime. A roughing operation is then performed for 5 minutes. Through the selective adsorption and hydrophobic modification of chalcopyrite by the collector, the chalcopyrite particles adhere to the flotation bubbles and float to the surface, ultimately yielding a concentrate mainly composed of chalcopyrite and tailings mainly composed of pyrite.

[0051] The structural formula of chalcopyrite collector C3 is as follows: .

[0052] Example 4 This embodiment provides a method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite, wherein the raw ore used is the same as in Embodiment 1, and the specific steps are as follows: After the raw ore is mixed with water and ground, the slurry has a concentration of 27% and a grinding fineness of -0.074mm (63%). 80g / t of raw ore collector C4, 10g / t of raw ore frother composition (composed of methyl isobutyl methanol, pine oil, and polyethylene glycol in a weight ratio of 45:40:15), and 400g / t of raw ore depressant composition (composed of lime, sodium sulfite, and sodium sulfide in a weight ratio of 75:15:10) are added to the slurry. The pH of the slurry is adjusted to 7.0 using lime. A roughing operation is then performed for 5 minutes. Through the selective adsorption and hydrophobic modification of chalcopyrite by the collector, the chalcopyrite particles adhere to the flotation bubbles and float to the surface, ultimately yielding a concentrate mainly composed of chalcopyrite and tailings mainly composed of pyrite.

[0053] The structural formula of chalcopyrite collector C4 is as follows: .

[0054] Example 5 The difference from Example 1 is that chalcopyrite collector C1 is replaced with chalcopyrite collector C5, and the structural formula of chalcopyrite collector C5 is: .

[0055] Comparative Example 1 The difference from Example 1 is that the chalcopyrite collector C1 is replaced with an equal mass of butyl xanthate.

[0056] Comparative Example 2 The difference from Example 2 is that the chalcopyrite collector C1 is replaced with an equal mass of ethyl thiocyanate.

[0057] Comparative Example 3 The difference from Example 1 is that the chalcopyrite collector C1 is replaced with... That is, replacing the propyne ester group with a carbon-carbon triple bond.

[0058] Comparative Example 4 The difference from Example 1 is that the chalcopyrite collector C1 is replaced with ethyl propargyl ester. .

[0059] Comparative Example 5 The difference from Example 1 is that the foaming agent composition is replaced with an equal mass of methyl isobutyl methanol (MIBC).

[0060] Comparative Example 6 The difference from Example 1 is that the inhibitor composition is replaced with an equal mass of lime.

[0061] The flotation yield, grade, and recovery rate of the above embodiments and comparative examples were tested, and the specific results are shown in Table 1.

[0062] Table 1 Results of flotation separation test

[0063] analyze: As shown in Table 1, compared with Comparative Example 1, the copper grade of copper concentrate increased from 5.32% to 7.60% by using chalcopyrite collector C1 in Example 1, which is an increase of 2.28%. At the same time, the sulfur recovery rate decreased from 29.03% to 17.41%, which means that the sulfur flotation was reduced by 11.62%.

[0064] Compared with Comparative Example 2, Example 2 used chalcopyrite collector C2, which increased the copper grade of the copper concentrate from 5.03% to 7.10%, an increase of 2.07%. At the same time, the sulfur recovery rate decreased from 31.74% to 20.11%, that is, the sulfur flotation was reduced by 11.63%.

[0065] Compared with Comparative Example 1, Example 4, using chalcopyrite collector C4, increased the copper grade of the copper concentrate from 5.32% to 6.81%, an increase of 1.49%, and maintained a high copper recovery rate of 81.37%. At the same time, the sulfur recovery rate decreased from 29.03% to 17.21%, that is, the sulfur flotation was reduced by 11.82%.

[0066] Compared to Comparative Example 1, Example 5, using chalcopyrite collector C5 (R = benzene ring), increased the copper grade of the copper concentrate from 5.32% to 8.25%, an increase of 2.93%, and the copper recovery rate from 86.00% to 83.50%, maintaining a high level. Simultaneously, the sulfur recovery rate decreased from 29.03% to 14.82%, meaning sulfur flotation was reduced by 14.21%. This indicates that the benzene ring, as the R group, has optimal collector selectivity, and its π-electron delocalization enhances the selective adsorption of the collector onto the chalcopyrite surface.

[0067] Compared with Example 1, in Comparative Example 3, after replacing the propyne ester group with a carbon-carbon triple bond, the copper grade of the copper concentrate decreased significantly from 7.60% to 0.52%, and the copper recovery rate decreased from 80.14% to 12.35%. This indicates that the collector almost lost its ability to collect chalcopyrite after the propyne ester group was missing, confirming that the propyne ester group is the key functional group for achieving selective collection.

[0068] Compared with Example 1, in Comparative Example 4, after replacing the chalcopyrite collector C1 with ethyl propargyl ester, the copper grade of the copper concentrate decreased significantly from 7.60% to 0.48%, and the copper recovery rate decreased from 80.14% to 8.72%. This indicates that the molecular structure of the collector has a decisive influence on its performance, and ethyl propargyl ester cannot achieve effective collection of chalcopyrite.

[0069] Compared with Example 1, in Comparative Example 5, after replacing the frother composition with an equal mass of MIBC, the copper grade of the copper concentrate decreased from 7.60% to 6.85%, and the sulfur recovery rate increased from 17.41% to 22.68%. This indicates that the frother composition can provide a more stable foam layer than a single frother, enhance the dispersibility and adsorption efficiency of the collector, and improve the selectivity of the sorting.

[0070] Compared with Example 1, in Comparative Example 6, after replacing the inhibitor composition with an equal mass of lime, the copper grade of the copper concentrate decreased from 7.60% to 5.85%, and the sulfur recovery rate increased significantly from 17.41% to 32.45%, that is, the sulfur flotation increased by 15.04%. This shows that the inhibitor composition can more effectively inhibit the flotation of pyrite than the single inhibitor, and significantly improve the copper-sulfur separation effect.

[0071] In addition, the slurry pH of all embodiments was controlled at 7-8.5 (neutral to moderately alkaline), which significantly reduced lime dependence compared to traditional processes, and the sulfur recovery rate of copper concentrate was lower than that of the comparative example. This indicates that the novel collector can accurately separate chalcopyrite and pyrite under low-alkaline conditions through the highly selective adsorption of chalcopyrite by propyne ester groups.

[0072] In summary, traditional collectors suffer from poor selectivity, reliance on large amounts of lime, or insufficient collecting capacity. However, the novel chalcopyrite collector proposed in this application can significantly improve the grade of copper concentrate, reduce sulfur flotation, lower lime consumption and environmental pressure, while ensuring a high copper recovery rate. This effectively optimizes the copper-sulfur flotation process parameters and provides a feasible solution for the efficient separation of low-grade copper-sulfur ores.

[0073] 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.

[0074] 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 method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite, characterized in that, include: The minerals to be processed, including chalcopyrite and pyrite, are mixed and floated with a chalcopyrite collector to obtain chalcopyrite concentrate and pyrite tailings. The general structural formula of the chalcopyrite collector is: 。 2. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to claim 1, characterized in that, R includes any one of substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl groups, substituted or unsubstituted C3-C6 unsaturated hydrocarbon groups, and substituted or unsubstituted C5-C12 cycloalkyl groups.

3. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to claim 2, characterized in that, The substituted or unsubstituted C1-C6 alkyl groups include -CH2- and -(CH2). n - at least one of the following, where n is an integer from 3 to 6; And / or, the substituted or unsubstituted C3-C6 unsaturated hydrocarbon group includes at least one of -CH=CH-, -CH2-CH=CH-, -CH2-CH=CH-CH2-, and -(CH2)2-CH=CH-CH2-; And / or, the substituted or unsubstituted C5-C12 cycloalkyl group includes at least one of cyclobutane, cyclopentane, and cyclohexane.

4. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to claim 3, characterized in that, R includes at least one of substituted or unsubstituted aromatic groups and branched alkyl groups; The substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group includes at least one of phenyl, naphthyl, tolyl, and xylyl; The branched alkyl group includes at least one of isopropyl, isobutyl, tert-butyl, and isopentyl.

5. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to claim 1, characterized in that, During the flotation process, the amount of chalcopyrite collector used is 30-200 g / t of raw ore.

6. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flotation process also includes the addition of a frother; The raw materials of the foaming agent, by weight, include: 40-70 parts methyl isobutyl methanol, 20-40 parts pine oil, and 5-20 parts polyethylene glycol.

7. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to claim 6, characterized in that, The amount of the foaming agent used is 10-80g / t of raw ore.

8. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to claim 1, characterized in that, The flotation process also includes the addition of inhibitors; the raw materials for the inhibitors, by weight, include: 50-80 parts lime, 15-35 parts sodium sulfite, and 5-15 parts sodium sulfide.

9. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to claim 8, characterized in that, The dosage of the inhibitor is 500-1000g / t of raw ore.

10. The method for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite according to any one of claims 1-9, characterized in that, The pH of the flotation is 6-11.

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