Polymetallic Ore Reagent for Low-Alkali Copper-Sulfur Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional beneficiation processes for polymetallic ores face challenges such as high toxicity due to cyanide use, equipment incrustation from calcium ions in high-alkalinity separations, and inefficient copper-sulfur separation in chalcopyrite-pyrite flotation.
Innovation Solution
A polymetallic-ore beneficiation and separation reagent is developed by mixing cyanuric acid salts with trichloroisocyanuric acid, dichloroisocyanuric acid, and 2-amino-3-(4-imidazolyl)propanoic acid, which forms a stable complex structure that inhibits pyrite flotation and enables low-alkalinity copper-sulfur separation without generating free cyanide ions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If high-alkali separation is used to inhibit pyrites in copper-sulfur flotation, then copper-sulfur separation is improved, but equipment incrustation increases and reliability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter from high-alkali (12-13) to low-alkali (9-11) conditions, fundamentally altering the separation mechanism. This parameter change allows effective pyrite inhibition without excessive calcium ion precipitation, thereby reducing equipment incrustation and improving reliability while maintaining separation efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a specific inhibitor reagent as an intermediary substance that mediates between the flotation process and pyrite inhibition. This reagent enables effective separation at lower pH levels by providing a alternative mechanism for pyrite suppression that does not rely on high-alkali conditions, thus avoiding calcium ion incrustation issues
2Reliability
If large amount of lime is added to adjust pH to 12-13 for copper-sulfur separation, then pyrites are inhibited, but corporate revenues reduce due to molybdenum and rhenium suppression
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the pH parameter from 12-13 to 9-11, creating a milder alkaline environment that selectively inhibits pyrites while preserving the floatability of molybdenum and rhenium minerals. This parameter change allows recovery of these valuable metals that would otherwise be suppressed under high-alkali conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a specific inhibitor reagent as an intermediary that provides pyrite inhibition functionality without requiring high-alkali conditions. This intermediary reagent enables selective pyrite suppression while maintaining favorable conditions for molybdenum and rhenium recovery, thus preventing loss of these valuable substances
3Reliability
If cyanide is used as flotation inhibitor in lead-zinc sulfide deposits, then lead-zinc separation is achieved, but toxicity increases and environmental harm worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces persistent toxic cyanide with a biodegradable organic inhibitor reagent that can be safely disposed of or degraded. This substitution eliminates the long-term environmental contamination and health hazards associated with cyanide while maintaining effective lead-zinc separation functionality
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful cyanide reagent into a benign organic compound that performs the same flotation inhibition function without toxicity. By replacing cyanide with an environmentally friendly alternative, the patent transforms a harmful process into a safe one, maintaining separation efficiency while eliminating environmental harm
4Productivity
If cyanide is used as lixiviant for gold leaching, then gold recovery is improved, but toxicity and environmental harm increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces persistent toxic cyanide with a biodegradable organic lixiviant that can be safely disposed of or degraded. This substitution eliminates the long-term environmental contamination and health hazards associated with cyanide gold leaching while maintaining effective gold recovery productivity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful cyanide lixiviant into a benign organic compound that performs gold leaching without toxicity. This transformation maintains the productivity of gold recovery while eliminating the environmental harm and health hazards associated with cyanide usage
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 reagent effectively replaces cyanide for lead-zinc sorting, achieves efficient copper-sulfur separation, and enhances gold leaching, while being environmentally friendly and reducing equipment damage from calcium ion incrustation.
Implementation Method 1
mixing a stable complex structure formed by cyanuric acid salts and derivatives thereof prepared by melt polymerization with trichloroisocyanuric acid, dichloroisocyanuric acid and 2-amino-3-(4-imidazolyl)propanoic acid
Implementation Method 2
cyano radicals in a molecular structure bond to atoms such as sulfur and oxygen and are dissolved out in a form of cyanate
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure provides a polymetallic-ore beneficiation and separation reagent, a preparation method therefor and use thereof. The preparation method for a polymetallic-ore beneficiation and separation reagent, includes following steps: (1) mixing a substance A, caustic soda, soda ash and sodium polysulfide, and then heating the same and performing a catalytic reaction, to render an intermediate product B, wherein the substance A includes one or more of urea, glycine, urea peroxide, ammonium cyanate and isocyanic acid; and (2) mixing the intermediate product B with trichloroisocyanuric acid, dichloroisocyanuric acid and 2-amino-3-(4-imidazolyl)propanoic acid, to render the polymetallic-ore beneficiation and separation reagent.