Zinc Collector Reduces Copper Sulfate in Flotation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current froth flotation methods for pre-concentrating zinc ores require expensive and corrosive copper sulfate, which reduces machinery lifespan and generates toxic effluents, and are inefficient due to the need for copper sulfate to activate zinc minerals for flotation.
Innovation Solution
A new zinc collector compound with a specific chemical structure, such as 2-(alkylamino)thiols, is used to selectively float zinc minerals without the need for copper sulfate, reducing its usage to less than 10-20% of the usual amount and minimizing pyrite contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If copper sulfate is added to activate sphalerite for flotation, then zinc mineral recovery is improved, but machinery corrosion increases and effluent toxicity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical parameter by substituting copper sulfate with zinc sulfate, altering the activation mechanism from copper-based to zinc-based. This maintains the activation function while eliminating the harmful effects of copper corrosion and toxicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces expensive and harmful copper sulfate with cheaper and environmentally friendly zinc sulfate. The zinc-based system achieves similar activation effects without the long-term harmful impacts of copper on machinery and environment.
2Stability of the object's composition
If copper sulfate is used to form stable surface complex with xanthate collector, then flotation stability is improved, but chemical cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameter from copper-based to zinc-based activation system. Zinc sulfate provides comparable surface complex stability with xanthate collectors while being more cost-effective and environmentally sustainable.
3Manufacturing precision
If zinc minerals are suppressed in Pb-R stage to avoid contamination, then lead concentrate purity is improved, but zinc recovery efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary zinc sulfate treatment to suppress sphalerite in the lead rougher stage, then uses zinc collector in the zinc rougher stage to recover zinc. This staged approach ensures lead concentrate purity while maximizing zinc recovery through pre-conditioning.
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 new collector achieves effective zinc recovery and high grade with reduced copper sulfate usage, improving selectivity and reducing environmental impact by minimizing toxic effluents and extending machinery life.
Implementation Method 1
adding a zinc collector, said zinc collector having a chemical structure according to compound (6)
Implementation Method 2
adding water and a frothing agent to the ground ore, thereby forming a ground ore solution
Data Source
AI summary
The main objective of the invention was to develop a new flotation collector that could eliminate or reduce the amount of copper sulfate used in the flotation of sphalerite. Different series of collectors such as cupferrons, arylhydroxamic acids and amino mercaptans or amino thiols were synthesized and tested. Amino mercaptans/aminothiols were found to be very effective in floating sphalerite from a lead-zinc ore using only 10-15% of copper sulfate used with conventional xanthate collector. The present invention does not require any alteration in the current mill practices. This warrants only changing the flotation collector in zinc flotation stage from, for example, potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) to the new collector.