Flotation agent and method for recovering arsenic-free copper mineral

Abstract

To provide: a flotation agent which is capable of improving the separation efficiency of an arsenic-free copper mineral from a mixture that contains an arsenic-containing copper mineral and the arsenic-free copper mineral; and a method for recovering an arsenic-free copper mineral with use of the flotation agent.SOLUTION: Provided is a flotation agent which comprises a collection agent represented by formula (1), and which is used for selectively recovering an arsenic-free copper mineral from a mixture that contains an arsenic-containing copper mineral and the arsenic-free copper mineral. (In the formula (1), R1 and R2 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, and at least one of R1 and R2 is a branched alkyl group. R1 and R2 may each independently have a ring structure).SELECTED DRAWING: None

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a flotation agent and a method for recovering arsenic-free copper minerals.

Background Art

[0002] In Japan, copper concentrates are imported from foreign countries known as mining countries (such as South American countries like Chile and Peru), and smelted domestically to produce copper ingots. Copper ores mined overseas generally contain copper minerals containing arsenic (hereinafter also simply referred to as arsenic-containing copper minerals) and copper minerals not containing arsenic (hereinafter also simply referred to as arsenic-free copper minerals). In recent years, however, the arsenic content in copper concentrates has been increasing.

[0003] Arsenic contained in copper concentrates is distributed into slag, soot, etc. during the smelting process, and although they are fixed and processed in a stable form at the smelter, there are concerns about problems such as increased processing costs due to the increasing arsenic content and storage locations inside and outside the smelter. For this reason, there is a need for a technology to selectively recover arsenic-containing copper minerals in the beneficiation process, which is the stage prior to the copper smelting process. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a method for treating copper concentrates containing arsenic, in which the copper concentrates are heat-treated at 90 to 120 °C, and then arsenic minerals are floated and separated from sedimentary chalcopyrite, bornite, etc.

[0004] However, implementing the method of Patent Document 1 requires equipment and energy for heating a large amount of copper concentrates, which increases the cost.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a flotation agent capable of improving the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals, and a method for recovering arsenic-free copper minerals using this flotation agent.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] [1] A flotation agent containing a collector represented by the following formula (1) and used for selectively recovering arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals.

Chemical formula

[10] The collector according to any one of [1] to [9] above, wherein the arsenic-free copper mineral is an arsenic-free copper mineral containing one or more selected from the group consisting of chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite, and chalcocite.

[11] A method for recovering an arsenic-free copper mineral that selectively recovers an arsenic-free copper mineral from a mixture containing an arsenic-containing copper mineral and an arsenic-free copper mineral, wherein a collector-containing collector is added to a slurry of the mixture to selectively float and beneficiate the arsenic-containing copper mineral, and a recovery step of selectively recovering the arsenic-free copper mineral, wherein the collector is the collector according to any one of [1] to

[10] above. [Advantages of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide a collector that can improve the separation efficiency of an arsenic-free copper mineral from a mixture containing an arsenic-containing copper mineral and an arsenic-free copper mineral, and a method for recovering an arsenic-free copper mineral using this collector. [Brief Description of the Drawings]

[0009]

Figure 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, a detailed description will be given based on the embodiments.

[0011] As a result of intensive research, the inventors have found that when a flotation agent containing a sulfide compound having a branched alkyl group as a collector is used, the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals can be improved. Based on such findings, the present disclosure has been completed.

[0012] First, the flotation agent of the embodiment will be described.

[0013] The flotation agent of the embodiment contains a collector represented by the following formula (1) and is used to selectively recover arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals.

[0014]

CHEMICAL

[0015] In the above formula (1), R 1 and R 2 are each independently an alkyl group having 1 or more and 16 or less carbon atoms, and at least one of R 1 and R 2 is a branched alkyl group. Also, R 1 and R 2 may each independently have a cyclic structure. In the present disclosure, that R 1 has a cyclic structure means that any two carbon atoms among the plurality of carbon atoms constituting the alkyl group of R 1 are bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure, and that R 2 has a cyclic structure means that R 2It means that any two carbon atoms among the plurality of carbon atoms constituting the alkyl group are bonded to each other to form a cyclic structure.

[0016] The scavenger represented by the above formula (1) is R 1 and R 2 Since at least one of them is a branched alkyl group, the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals (hereinafter, also simply referred to as the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals) can be improved.

[0017] In the above formula (1), R 1 and R 2 may have the same or different number of carbon atoms. Also, from the viewpoint of improving the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals, in the above formula (1), R 1 and R 2 are each preferably an alkyl group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms independently, and R 1 and R 2 are more preferably both an alkyl group having 4 carbon atoms or both an alkyl group having 8 carbon atoms.

[0018] Among them, from the viewpoint of further improving the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals, in the above formula (1), R 1 and R 2 are each preferably a branched alkyl group. R 1 and R 2 may have the same or different number of carbon atoms.

[0019] When both R 1 and R 2 in the above formula (1) are branched alkyl groups, from the viewpoint of improving the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals, R 1 and R 2 are each preferably an alkyl group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms independently, and R 1 and R 2It is more preferable that all of them are branched alkyl groups having 4 carbon atoms. Among them, the compound represented by the above formula (1) is more preferably the compound represented by the following formula (2).

[0020]

Chemical formula

[0021] Further, when both R 1 and R 2 in the above formula (1) are branched alkyl groups, from the viewpoint of improving the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals and from the viewpoint of production cost, R 1 and R 2 are preferably both branched alkyl groups having 8 carbon atoms. Among them, the compound represented by the above formula (1) is more preferably the compound represented by the following formula (3).

[0022]

Chemical formula

[0023] The addition amount of the collector represented by the above formula (1) to the mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals may be 50 g or more, 60 g or more, or 70 g or more per ton of the mixture. When the addition amount of the collector is 50 g or more per ton of the mixture, the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals can be improved.

[0024] Further, the addition amount of the collector represented by the above formula (1) may be 2000 g or less, 1500 g or less, or 1300 g or less per ton of the mixture. When the addition amount of the collector is 2000 g or less per ton of the mixture, the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals can be improved.

[0025] Also, the addition amount of the collector may be 0.25 times or more and 4 times or less the upper limit of the solubility of the collector in a solution (for example, water).

[0026] Note that the above addition amount of the collector is based on copper concentrate. In the case of copper ore, since the proportion of arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals contained in the copper ore is low, the addition amount may be adjusted appropriately accordingly.

[0027] In addition to the collector represented by the above formula (1), the flotation agent may further contain various additives such as a depressant and a frother. Also, the flotation agent may be composed only of the collector represented by the above formula (1) without containing the above additives.

[0028] The arsenic-containing copper minerals contained in the mixture are copper minerals containing arsenic. Specifically, they are copper minerals containing the arsenic (As) element as a chemical composition. For example, enargite (Cu3AsS4), luzonite (Cu3AsS4), tennantite (Cu6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]As4S 13 ), giraudite (Cu6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]As4Se 13 ), goldfieldite (Cu6Cu4Te2(Sb,As)4S 13 ), argentotennantite (Ag6[Cu4(Fe,Zn)2]As4S 13 ) and the like. Among them, even if the arsenic-containing copper minerals contain one or more selected from the group consisting of enargite, luzonite and tennantite, the separation efficiency of the arsenic-free copper minerals is good.

[0029] In addition, the arsenic-free copper minerals contained in the mixture are copper minerals not containing arsenic. Specifically, they are copper minerals not containing the arsenic element as a chemical composition. For example, chalcopyrite (CuFeS2), bornite (Cu5FeS4), covellite (CuS), chalcocite (Cu2S) and the like. Even if the arsenic-free copper minerals contain one or more selected from the group consisting of chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite and chalcocite, the separation efficiency of the arsenic-free copper minerals is good.

[0030] Incidentally, the arsenic-containing copper minerals may contain single-edge particles with arsenic-free copper minerals. Also, the arsenic-free copper minerals may contain a trace amount (e.g., 0.1 wt% or less) of single-edge particles with arsenic-containing copper minerals. Further, the arsenic-free copper minerals may contain a trace amount (e.g., 0.1 wt% or less) of arsenic as an impurity.

[0031] Moreover, the mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals may be any mixture in which the arsenic-containing copper minerals and the arsenic-free copper minerals are mixed. For example, it may be a mixture in which fine particles of pulverized and atomized arsenic-containing copper minerals and fine particles of pulverized and atomized arsenic-free copper minerals are mixed. Also, it may be a copper concentrate containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals, or it may be a copper ore containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals.

[0032] Regarding the fine particles of arsenic-containing copper minerals and the fine particles of arsenic-free copper minerals contained in the mixture, when the average particle size is 10 μm or more, the arsenic-containing copper minerals are likely to adsorb to the bubbles, and the separation efficiency of the arsenic-free copper minerals from the mixture can be improved.

[0033] Also, the mixing ratio of the arsenic-containing copper minerals and the arsenic-free copper minerals in the above mixture is not limited as long as the separation efficiency of the arsenic-free copper minerals does not decrease. For example, the arsenic-containing copper minerals and the arsenic-free copper minerals may be in the same ratio, or the arsenic-containing copper minerals may be more than the arsenic-free copper minerals, or the arsenic-containing copper minerals may be less than the arsenic-free copper minerals.

[0034] Next, a method for recovering arsenic-free copper minerals according to an embodiment will be described.

[0035] The method for recovering arsenic-free copper minerals according to the embodiment is a method for selectively recovering arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals, and uses the flotation agent of the above embodiment. The method for recovering arsenic-free copper minerals has a recovery step.

[0036] In the recovery process of the arsenic-free copper minerals, a flotation agent containing a collector is added to the slurry of the mixture to selectively float and beneficiate the arsenic-containing copper minerals, and selectively recover the arsenic-free copper minerals. The flotation agent added to the slurry of the mixture is a flotation agent containing the collector represented by the above formula (1). By adding water to the mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals, a slurry of the mixture can be produced.

[0037] The slurry of the mixture to which the flotation agent is added is a fluid in which minerals (such as mineral particles of arsenic-containing copper mineral particles and arsenic-free copper mineral particles) containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals are suspended in an aqueous solution. The water added to the mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals is not particularly limited, and may be, for example, distilled water, tap water, or natural water. Also, water obtained by filtering water such as tap water or natural water through a reverse osmosis membrane (RO membrane) filter (hereinafter, also simply referred to as RO water) may be used.

[0038] The amount of water added to the mixture is not particularly limited as long as the mixture can be slurried, and may be, for example, 2 mL or more and 500 mL or less per 1 g of the mixture.

[0039] Also, the temperature of the slurry of the mixture to which the flotation agent is added is not particularly limited as long as the arsenic-containing copper minerals can be floated, and may be, for example, normal temperature (about 20 °C or more and 25 °C or less).

[0040] In the method for recovering arsenic-free copper minerals according to the embodiment, a so-called reverse flotation process is performed in which the arsenic-containing copper minerals are floated to the upper surface side of the slurry of the mixture for beneficiation, while the arsenic-free copper minerals are retained in the slurry of the mixture for recovery.

[0041] The method for recovering arsenic-free copper minerals is a separation method that utilizes the fact that among the mineral particles in the slurry, hydrophobic particles easily adhere to bubbles and float, while hydrophilic particles do not easily adhere to bubbles and remain in the slurry by blowing air or nitrogen into the slurry of the mixture.

[0042] Since the collector represented by formula (1) has a site that selectively adsorbs arsenic-containing copper minerals compared to arsenic-free copper minerals and a hydrophobic group site that easily adheres to air bubbles, the collector represented by formula (1) selectively attaches arsenic-containing copper minerals (particles) to air bubbles and causes them to float to the upper surface of the slurry. Furthermore, at least one of R 1 and R 2 in formula (1) is a branched alkyl group, that is, since the carbon chain is branched, the collector represented by formula (1) can more efficiently attach arsenic-containing copper minerals to air bubbles and increase the amount of arsenic-containing copper minerals that float. As a result, the floating ore (froth) becomes a high-arsenic copper concentrate with concentrated arsenic. In this way, arsenic-free copper minerals are concentrated in the tailing, and the tailing becomes a low-arsenic copper concentrate with reduced arsenic.

[0043] The floating ore contains a large amount of arsenic-containing copper minerals. In addition, the floating ore may contain not only arsenic-containing copper minerals but also other minerals, impurities, a small amount of arsenic-free copper minerals, etc. On the other hand, the tailing contains a large amount of arsenic-free copper minerals. In addition, the tailing may contain not only arsenic-free copper minerals but also other minerals, impurities, a small amount of arsenic-containing copper minerals, etc.

[0044] In this way, by adding a flotation agent containing the collector represented by the above formula (1) to the slurry of the mixture, selectively floating the arsenic-containing copper minerals for ore dressing, and selectively recovering the arsenic-free copper minerals precipitated in the slurry of the mixture, a concentrate containing a large amount of arsenic-free copper minerals can be obtained from the mixture of arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals. In this way, copper minerals with a low arsenic content or no arsenic can be efficiently recovered from the mixture of arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals.

[0045] According to the embodiment described above, when using a flotation agent containing the collector represented by formula (1), the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals can be improved.

[0046] Although the embodiments have been described above, the present disclosure is not limited to the above embodiments, but includes all aspects included in the concept and claims of the present disclosure, and can be variously modified within the scope of the present disclosure.

Example

[0047] Next, examples and comparative examples will be described, but the present disclosure is not limited to these examples.

[0048] (Example 1) As mineral specimens, arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals were adopted as objects of study. Specifically, as the arsenic-containing copper mineral, the mineral specimen name = enargite was set as Mineral Specimen 1, and as the arsenic-free copper mineral, the mineral specimen name = chalcopyrite was set as Mineral Specimen 2. Using a disk mill manufactured by FRITSCH, each mineral specimen was pulverized, and the material sieved at 75 μm was used as a test sample.

[0049] For the grade analysis of each test sample, the concentration of each element was measured by electron beam microanalyzer analysis using JXA-8500F manufactured by JEOL Ltd. The results of Mineral Specimen 1 are shown in Table 1, and the results of Mineral Specimen 2 are shown in Table 2.

[0050]

Table 1

[0051]

Table 2

[0052] Using the compound of the above formula (2) as a collector, the collector was dispersed in pure water to prepare an aqueous solution containing the compound of formula (2) (hereinafter simply referred to as the aqueous solution of formula (2)) as a flotation agent. Also, after putting 5 g of mineral specimen 1 (arsenic-containing copper ore) and pure water into a beaker, mineral specimen 1 and pure water were stirred for 5 minutes. Next, the aqueous solution of formula (2) was further added to the beaker so that the amount of the compound of formula (2) per 1 t of mineral specimen 1 was 100 g, and the solution in the beaker was stirred for 3 minutes. Then, as a general-purpose foaming agent, 1.0 mL of a 0.2 wt% solution of methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) was added and stirred for 2 minutes. Thereafter, the slurry 10 obtained by standing for 3 minutes was put into a simple flotation tester 1 (Hallimond tube) shown in Fig. 1.

[0053] Next, nitrogen 20 was introduced into the slurry 10 through a stopper 4 from below the tube 2 constituting the simple flotation tester 1 to generate bubbles 11, and separation by flotation treatment was performed for 10 minutes. Specifically, most of the particles of the arsenic-containing copper ore, which are highly hydrophobic particles 12, adhered to the bubbles 11 and floated up. The floated bubbles 11 burst above and settled and deposited in the tube 3 connected to the tube 2 (float ore A, froth). On the other hand, the particles that did not adhere to the bubbles 11 stayed in the tube 2 (tailings B, tailing).

[0054] Then, as the float ore rate of mineral specimen 1, the amount of float ore A with respect to the total amount of mineral specimen 1 put into the simple flotation tester 1 was calculated.

[0055] Subsequently, in the same manner except that mineral specimen 1 was replaced with mineral specimen 2 (arsenic-free copper ore), as the float ore rate of mineral specimen 2, the amount of float ore A with respect to the total amount of mineral specimen 2 put into the simple flotation tester 1 was calculated. And the separation efficiency (float ore rate of mineral specimen 1 / float ore rate of mineral specimen 2) was calculated.

[0056] The measurement of the above separation efficiency was performed twice (N = 2). And the values of the two separation efficiencies obtained were averaged to obtain the separation efficiency of Example 1.

[0057] (Example 2) The separation efficiency was determined in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the chemical formula of Formula (2) was replaced with the chemical formula of Formula (3).

[0058] (Comparative Example 1) The separation efficiency was determined in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the chemical formula of Formula (2) was replaced with the chemical formula of the following Formula (4).

[0059] [Chemical formula]

[0060] (Comparative Example 2) The separation efficiency was determined in the same manner as in Example 1, except that the chemical formula of Formula (2) was replaced with Potassium Amyl Xanthate (PAX, the chemical formula of the following Formula (5)).

[0061] [Chemical formula]

[0062] The results of the separation efficiencies obtained in Examples 1 to 2 and Comparative Examples 1 to 2 are shown in Table 3. The larger the separation efficiency, that is, the higher the floating ore rate of Mineral Specimen 1 and the lower the floating ore rate of Mineral Specimen 2, the more preferable it is.

[0063] [Table 3]

[0064] As shown in Table 3, in the above test using the mineral specimen, in Example 1, a flotation agent containing a collector represented by Formula (2) was used, and in Example 2, a flotation agent containing a collector represented by Formula (3) was used. Therefore, compared with Comparative Examples 1 to 2 using a flotation agent containing a collector represented by Formula (4) or a collector represented by Formula (5), it was confirmed that the separation efficiency of arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals was increased.

[0065] (Example 3) As an ore sample, arsenic-containing copper ore was adopted. Using a ball mill, the arsenic-containing copper ore was pulverized, and a sample with a cumulative undersize distribution of 80% at 75 μm was used as the test sample.

[0066] The grade analysis of the test sample was determined by the following analysis flow. First, the weight of the test sample was measured, then microwave heating and acid dissolution were carried out, followed by volume adjustment to make up the volume and dilution to a fixed volume to obtain an analytical sample solution. Next, the analytical sample solution was subjected to ICP analysis using an ICP-OES 5110 manufactured by Agilent Technologies, and quantitative analysis was performed as the elemental concentration in the solution. Specifically, the product of the solution volume after volume adjustment and the solution concentration of each component element analyzed by ICP was divided by the weight of the acid-dissolved sample to obtain the elemental grade (wt%). The grade analysis results of the arsenic-containing copper ore, which is the raw material of the test sample, are shown in Table 4.

[0067]

Table 4

[0068] After adding 250 g of the test sample and 750 mL of pure water to a 1 L agitator-type flotation machine, the slurry of pure water and the test sample was adjusted to pH 10.5 with a 1 mol / L aqueous sodium hydroxide solution and stirred for 5 minutes.

[0069] Next, the compound of the above formula (3) was added to the slurry so that the addition amount was 0.25 mol per 1 t of the test sample, and the slurry was stirred for 3 minutes. Then, as a general-purpose foaming agent, methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) was added to the slurry so that the addition amount was 10 g per 1 t of the test sample, and the slurry was stirred for 0.5 minutes.

[0070] Next, air was introduced into the Azitea flotation machine to generate bubbles, and separation was performed by flotation treatment for 1 minute. The sample attached to the bubbles was recovered as the float ore, and the sample that did not attach to the bubbles and remained in the slurry was recovered as the sink ore. The grade analysis of the recovered samples was performed, and the recovery rate of arsenic-containing copper minerals was determined from the following formula (A), the recovery rate of arsenic-free copper minerals was determined from the following formula (C), and the separation efficiency was determined from the following formula (D). Also, the copper weight derived from arsenic-containing copper minerals was determined from the following formula (B).

[0071] [Number] [Number] [Number] [Number]

[0072] (Comparative Example 3) The recovery rate of arsenic-containing copper minerals, the recovery rate of arsenic-free copper minerals, and the separation efficiency were determined in the same manner as in Example 3, except that the compound of the above formula (3) was replaced with the compound of the above formula (4) as the collector.

[0073] The results of the respective recovery rates and separation efficiencies obtained in Example 3 and Comparative Example 3 are shown in Table 5. A higher recovery rate and separation efficiency of arsenic-containing copper minerals are preferable.

[0074] [Table 5]

[0075] As shown in Table 5, in the above test using an ore sample, in Example 3, since a flotation agent containing the collector represented by the formula (3) was used, it was confirmed that the separation efficiency was higher than that in Comparative Example 3 using a flotation agent containing the collector represented by the formula (4). [Explanation of Signs]

[0076] 1 Simple flotation tester 2, 3 tubes 4 plugs 10 slurries 11 bubbles 12 highly hydrophobic particles 20 nitrogen or air A concentrate B tailings

Claims

1. A flotation agent containing a collector represented by the following formula (1), which is used to selectively recover arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals. 【Chemical 1】 (In the formula (1), R １ and R ２ are each independently an alkyl group having 1 to 16 carbon atoms, and at least one of R １ and R ２ is a branched alkyl group. R １ and R ２ may each independently have a cyclic structure.)

2. R １ and R ２ are each independently an alkyl group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, the flotation agent according to claim 1.

3. R １ and R ２ The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein both are alkyl groups having 4 carbon atoms or both are alkyl groups having 8 carbon atoms.

4. R １ and R ２ The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein both are branched alkyl groups.

5. R １ and R ２ each independently represents an alkyl group having 4 to 8 carbon atoms, and R １ and R ２ are both branched alkyl groups. The flotation agent according to claim 1.

6. R １ and R ２ The flotation agent according to claim 1, wherein both are branched alkyl groups having 4 carbon atoms or both are branched alkyl groups having 8 carbon atoms.

7. The flotation agent according to Claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the formula (1) is a compound represented by the following formula (2). 【Chemical 2】

8. The flotation agent according to Claim 1, wherein the compound represented by the formula (1) is a compound represented by the following formula (3). [Chemical Formula 3]

9. The flotation agent according to Claim 1, wherein the arsenic-containing copper mineral contains one or more selected from the group consisting of digenite, luzonite, and langite.

10. The flotation agent according to Claim 1, wherein the arsenic-free copper mineral contains one or more selected from the group consisting of chalcopyrite, bornite, covellite, and chalcocite.

11. A method for recovering arsenic-free copper minerals, which selectively recovers arsenic-free copper minerals from a mixture containing arsenic-containing copper minerals and arsenic-free copper minerals, comprising a recovery step of adding a flotation agent containing a collector to a slurry of the mixture to selectively float and beneficiate the arsenic-containing copper minerals and selectively recover the arsenic-free copper minerals, wherein the flotation agent is the flotation agent according to any one of Claims 1 to 10.

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