Copper-Sulfur Ore Flotation Using Facet-Selective Pyrite Depression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional collectors and depressants fail to effectively recover copper and inhibit pyrite minerals during the flotation separation of copper-sulfur polymetallic ore, leading to loss of copper resources due to the similarity in chemical properties of chalcopyrite and pyrite.
Innovation Solution
A method involving ore grinding, slurry conditioning, pH adjustment, and multiple-stage flotation with specific collectors and depressants, including sodium cyanamide, sodium dicyandiamide, and sodium polysulfide, to enhance the differential flotation of chalcopyrite and pyrite, improving recovery rates.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional collectors and depressants are used for flotation separation, then the flotation process can be carried out, but copper recovery is insufficient and pyrite cannot be effectively inhibited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameters by using specific collectors (isobutyl xanthate, potassium ethyl xanthate) and depressants (sodium cyanamide, sodium dicyandiamide, sodium polycyanamide, sodium polysulfide) with optimized dosage ratios. The mass ratio of depressants is precisely controlled at (1-5):(10-17):(2-7):(1-2), which significantly improves copper recovery rate to over 89% while effectively inhibiting pyrite minerals that have similar chemical properties to chalcopyrite
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a composite reagent system combining multiple collectors and four types of depressants working synergistically. This composite approach allows the depressants to selectively coordinate with pyrite minerals while collectors attach to chalcopyrite, resolving the separation challenge between these chemically similar minerals and achieving both high copper recovery and effective pyrite inhibition
2Manufacturing precision
If chalcopyrite and pyrite are separated through preferential flotation, then copper concentrate can be obtained, but the similar floatability and oxidation properties make effective separation difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by making different parts of the mineral system respond differently to reagents. The depressants selectively inhibit pyrite minerals while collectors specifically attach to chalcopyrite surfaces. This selective local action achieves precise separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite despite their similar overall chemical properties, with copper recovery exceeding 89% and effective pyrite suppression
3Object-affected harmful factors
If large amounts of lime are used to inhibit pyrite, then pyrite flotation can be suppressed, but copper loss increases and the process becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional lime-based inhibition system with a more efficient depressant system. The depressants (sodium cyanamide, sodium dicyandiamide, sodium polycyanamide, sodium polysulfide) act as more effective short-term inhibitors that specifically target pyrite minerals. This substitution reduces copper loss while achieving the same pyrite suppression effect, with copper recovery rate exceeding 89%
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the chemical inhibition parameters by using depressants with specific mass ratios instead of large amounts of lime. The optimized depressant system achieves effective pyrite inhibition at lower dosages, minimizing copper loss in tailings while maintaining high copper recovery rate
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method achieves a copper recovery rate of over 89% by exploiting the responsiveness difference of chalcopyrite facets to collectors and the selective unsaturated coordination of depressants, reducing the need for large amounts of lime and minimizing copper loss in sulfur-containing tailings.
Implementation Method 1
according to the responsiveness difference of different facets of chalcopyrite to collectors and the selective unsaturated coordination of depressants to the properties of the facets of chalcopyrite and pyrite
Implementation Method 2
the selective unsaturated coordination of depressants to the properties of the facets of chalcopyrite and pyrite
Implementation Method 3
performing an ore grinding treatment on a raw ore, so as to obtain a ground ore material... performing a slurry conditioning and a pH adjustment on the ground ore material... adding a collector A, a depressant B and a frother into the resultant for one-time roughing
Data Source
AI summary
Method of flotation separation for copper-sulfur polymetallic ore includes: S1, an ore grinding treatment is carried out on a raw ore to obtain a ground ore material with the exposure ratio of 112, 204, 312 facets of chalcopyrite of 55%-65%, 5%-18%, and 3%-10% respectively, and the exposure ratio of 100 facet of pyrite of 60%-80%; S2, the ground ore material, the collector A, the depressant B and the frother are mixed and undergo one-time roughing, so as to obtain the rougher concentrate and the rougher tailings; S3, the rougher concentrate and the collector A are mixed and undergo multiple-time cleaning to obtain the copper concentrate; and S4, the cascade-intensified flotation is carried out on the rougher tailings to obtain a sulfur-containing tailings, wherein the collector A includesand the depressant B includes sodium cyanamide, sodium dicyandiamide, sodium polycyanamide and sodium polysulfide.