MINERALS, MATERIALS

AND INDUSTRY
Paperspresented at the Fourteenth Congress s > f the Council of
Mining and Metallurgical Institutions, organized by the Institution of
Mining and Metallurgy and held in Edinburgh, Scotland, from2 to
6J uly, 1990
The Institution of
Mining and Metallurgy
()l I
~
Studies on the flotation of mixed
oxide-sulphide ores of copper from
Malanjkhand deposit, India
S. Prabhakar
National Metallurgical Laboratory Madras Centre) CSIR Madras Complex) Madras) India
G. Bhaskar Raju
National Metallurgical Laboratory Madras Centre) CSIR Madras Complex) Madras) India
V. N. Misra
Kalgoorlie Metallurgical Laboratory) Chemistry Centre) Department of Mines) Kalgoorlie) Western
Australia
P. R. Khangaonkar
~ "hoolof Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering) Universiti Sains Malaysia) Ipoh) Malaysia
Be nc h s c a l e e x pe r i me nt s o n t he be ne f i -
t i o n o f a mi x e d o x i de - s ul phi de o r e
o f c o ppe r f r o m Ma l a nj k ha nd de po s i t o f
Hi ndus t ha n Co ppe r L i mi t e d, I ndi a c o n-
duc t e d wi t h c e r t a i n mo di f i c a t i o ns i n
c o l l e c t o r s y s t e ms wi t hi n t he l i mi t s
o f e x i s t i ng pl a nt o pe r a t i ng c o ndi t i o ns
y i e l de d be t t e r me t a l l ur gi c a l r e s ul t s .
So di um i s o pr o py l x a nt ha t e ( I P X) a nd
s o di um di e t hy l di t hi o c a r ba ma t e ( DT C)
we r e t r i e d a s c o l l e c t o r s a l o ng wi t h
mo di f i e r s , s uc h, a s , s o di um s i l i c a t e ,
Ma gna f l o c -
v i z . r e a ge nt
pul p e t c . we r e
a nd o pt i mi s e d.
r e s ul t s we r e
gua r gum, Ma gna f l o c - 140 a nd
351. Al l t he v a r i a bl e s ,
c o nc e nt r a t i o n, pH o f t he
J s t e ma t i c a l l y s t udi e d
' ~pr o v e d me t a l l ur gi c a l
o bt a i ne d wi t h i s o pr o py l
c o mbi na t i o n wi t h s o di um s i l i c a t e
\ - a r gum a t pH 9. 0. T he r e s ul t s we r e
a l s o e qua l l y go o d wi t h di t hi o c a r ba ma t e ,
a c he mi s o r bi ng c o l l e c t o r .
Hi ndus t ha n Co ppe r L i mi t e d' s Ma l a nj k ha nd
P r o j e c t ( M. P . St a t e ) , i s t he bi gge s t
o pe n pi t ba s e me t a l mi ne i n I ndi a .
T he pr o j e c t i s de s i gne d t o pr o duc e 2
mi l l i o n t o nne s o f o r e pe r y e a r a t i t s
f ul l r a t e d c a pa c i t y a nd c o nc e nt r a t e
t he s a me by f l o t a t i o n. Ma l a c hi t e i s
t he pr e do mi na nt c o ppe r mi ne r a l i n t he
o x i di z e d c a ppi ng whe r e a s c ha l c o py r i t e
a nd py r i t e a r e t he pr i nc i pa l mi ne r a l s
i n t he pr i ma r y o r e z o ne
1
I n t he s e c o n-
da r y e nr i c hme nt z o ne , whe r e t he pr e s e nt
mi ni ng a c t i v i t i e s a r e go i ng o n, c o ppe r
o c c ur s no t o nl y a s c ha l c o py r i t e but
a l s o a s c o v e l l i t e a nd c ha l c o c i t e . Apa r t
f r o m s e c o nda r y s ul phi de mi ne r a l i z a t i o n,
c o ns i de r a bl e de gr e e o f o x i de f o r ma t i o n
wa s a l s o o bs e r v e d i n t he o r e f r o m t hi s
z o ne . T he o r e e x hi bi t s a c o ppe r s e gr e -
ga t i o n t e nde nc y i n t he f i ne r s i z e s .
c a r r i e s di f f e r e nt pr o po r t i o ns o f pr i ma r y
a nd s e c o nda r y c o ppe r mi ne r a l s a nd o x i de
c o ppe r mi ne r a l s . T he v a r i e d na t ur e
o f t he de po s i t
r e c o v e r i e s a nd
t a i l i ng 10s s e s
2
.
T o a c hi e v e be t t e r me t a l l ur gi c a l
r e s ul t s , s pe c i f i c , mo r e e f f i c i e nt
c o l l e c t o r s y s t e ms a r e ne e de d t o f l o a t
t he s l uggi s hl y f l o a t i ng c o v e l l i t e a nd
c ha l c o c i t e a nd t he po o r l y f l o a t i ng
ma l a c hi t e .
T he pr e s e nt i nv e s t i ga t i o n de t a i l s
c e r t a i n mo di f i c a t i o ns i n t he c o l l e c t o r
s y s t e ms wi t hi n t he l i mi t s o f e x i s t i ng
o pe r a t i ng c o ndi t i o ns o f t he pl a nt .
M A T E R I A L S A N D M E T H O D S
T he c o ppe r o r e us e d i n t he i nv e s t i ga -
t i o n wa s a t y pi c a l ( c r us he d) s a mpl e
c o nt a i ni ng s ul phi de s a nd o x i de s a na l y s i ng
a bo ut 3. 0% c o ppe r , o bt a i ne d f r o m
Ma l a nj k ha nd Co ppe r P r o j e c t o f Hi ndus t ha n
Co ppe r L i mi t e d, I ndi a . T he s a mpl e wa s
a ga i n c r us he d t o 10 me s h us i ng L a bo r a t o r y
j a w c r us he r f o l l o we d by r o l l c r us he r ,
t he o ut put o f whi c h wa s f ur t he r gr o und
i n a ba l l mi l l t o ge t 60% - 0. 075 mm
f r a c t i o n. T he f i na l pr o duc t wi t h t he
s i z e di s t r i but i o n s ho wn i n T a bl e I I
wa s di r e c t l y
e x pe r i me nt s .
o f t he he a d
us e d
T he
s a mpl e
i n t he f l o t a t i o n
c he mi c a l a na l y s i s
i s s ho wn i n T a bl e 1.
Che mi c a l a na l y s i s o f he a d
s a mpl e
Co ppe r
I r o n
Si1 ic a
Sul phur
Ca O
Ac i d ( 5% Sul phur i c
a c i d) So l ubl e Co ppe r
%
3. 06
3. 22
81 .34
4. 75
2. 39
0. 34
Si e v e a na l y s i s o f t he he a d
s a mpl e
wt . % Cu % T o t a l
Cu di s -
t r i bu-
t i o n
% Di s-
t r i -
but i o n
1 +0. 21 1 . 22 0. 69 0. 0084 0. 27
2 - 0. 21 +0. 15 6. 95 1 . 32 0. 0920 3. 01
3 - 0. 15 +0. 10516. 87 1 . 91 0. 3222 10. 53
4 - 0. 105+0. 075 9. 95 2. 35 0. 2338 7. 64
5 - 0. 075+0. 06310. 76 2. 30 0. 2475 8. 09
6 - 0. 063+0. 05310. 09 3. 63 0. 3663 11 . 98
7 - 0. 053 44. 16 4. 05 1. 7885 58. 47
100. 00 3 . 05 8 7 1 00 . 00
So me o f t he r e a ge nt s us e d i n t he
i nv e s t i ga t i o n v i z . s o di um s i l i c a t e ,
pi ne o i l , gua r gum, Ma gna f l o c a nd s o di um
i s o pr o py l x a nt ha t e we r e o f c o mme r c i a l
gr a de whi l s t s o di um di e t hy l di t hi o c a r ba -
ma t e , s o di um hy dr o x i de a nd a c e t i c a c i d
we r e o f l a bo r a t o r y r e a ge nt gr a de s .
Al l t he f l o t a t i o n e x pe r i me nt s we r e
c a r r i e d o ut i n a Do r r - Ol i v e r f l o t a t i o n
c e l l ( 1 k g c a pa c i t y ) k e e pi ng 25- 30%
s o l i ds i n a s i ngl e s t a ge o pe r a t i o n.
T he a na l y s i s o f c o ppe r i n t he o r e , f l o a t
a nd t a i l i ngs wa s de t e r mi ne d wi t h At o mi c
Abs o r pt i o n Spe c t r o pho t o me t e r AA 575.
Al l t he e x pe r i me nt s we r e dupl i c a t e d
a nd t he a v e r a ge r e s ul t s o bt a i ne d a r e
r e po r t e d.
As a
f i ne s
pr e l i mi na r y
( - 0. 075 mm)
e x t e nt o f
a s r e c e i v e d
s t e p t he
i n t he
s a mpl e wa s de t e r mi ne d by s c r e e ni ng.
T he s e f i ne s a c c o unt e d f o r a bo ut 8% by
we i ght o f t he s a mpl e a nd a na l y s e d 5. 8%
c o ppe r i nc l udi ng 1. 4% a c i d ( 5% Sul phur i c
a c i d) s o l ubl e c o ppe r . T hi s i ndi c a t e
t ha t t he ge ne r a t i o n o f f i ne s a t t he
c r us hi ng s t a ge i t s e l f i s s ubs t a nt i a l .
T he c he mi c a l a na l y s i s o f t he he a d
s a mpl e a f t e r gr i ndi ng s ho wn i n T a bl e
I , r e v e a l e d t he ma j o r ga ngue t o be
s i l i c a . T he s i e v e a na l y s i s o f t he
s a mpl e a f t e r gr i ndi ng i n a ba l l mi l l
i s i ndi c a t e d i n T a bl e I I . I t i s e v i de nt
t ha t t he - 0. 053 mm f r a c t i o n a c c o unt s
f o r a bo ut 45% by we i ght . T he c he mi c a l
a na l y s i s o f t he i ndi v i dua l s i e v e
f r a c t i o ns i ndi c a t e d t ha t mo r e t ha n 50%
o f t he t o t a l c o ppe r r e ma i ne d i n t hi ~
f r a c t i o n.
T he c o nc e nt r a t o r pl a nt a t Ma l a nj k ha nd
i s pr e s e nt l y c a r r y i ng o ut t he f l o t a t i u'
o f c o ppe r o r e s gr o und t o 50% - 0. 075
mm us i ng I P X a nd pi ne o i l a t t he na t ur a l
pH o f t he wa t e r a v a i l a bl e . A f e w
pr e l i mi na r y e x pe r i me nt s we r e c a r r i e d
o ut wi t h 1 k g o f gr o und o r e , 0. 06 k g/ t o n
s o di um i s o pr o py l x a nt ha t e a nd 0. 04
k g/ t o n pi ne o i l wi t ho ut a ny mo di f i e r s
o r de pr e s s a nt s , i . e . ma i nt a i ni ng t he
s a me c o ndi t i o ns a s i n t he pl a nt e x c e pt
c l e a ni ng a nd s c a v e ngi ng s t e ps . T he
t r i a l s r e s ul t e d a r e c o v e r y o f 73. 4%
wi t h a f l o a t gr a de o f 14. 5% c o ppe r .
As t he t a i l i ngs we r e
t he y we r e s ubj e c t e d t o
a nd t he r e s ul t s a r e
T a bl e I I I . T he r e s ul t s
r i c h i n c o ppe r ,
s i e v e a na l y s i s
pr e s e nt e d i n
i ndi c a t e d t ha t
5i e v e a na l y s i s o f t he
t a i l i ngs
51.
No .
Wt . % Cu % Di s t r i - % Di s -
but i o n t r i bu-
t i o n
+0. 21 1. 12
- 0 . 2 1 +0 . 1 5 5 . 80
- 0. 15 +0. 10514. 95
- 0. 105+0. 075 9. 05
- 0. 075+0. 06310. 94
- 0. 063+0. 05310. 12
- 0. 053+ 48. 02
100. 00
0. 536
0. 345
0. 482
0. 718
0. 649
1. 344
1. 166
0. 006
0. 020
0. 072
0. 065
0. 071
0. 136
0. 560
0. 930
0. 65
2. 15
7. 74
6. 99
7. 63
14. 62
60. 22
100. 00
t he c o ppe r l o s s i n f i ne f r a c t i o ns , i . e .
- 0. 063+0. 053 a nd - 0. 053 mm a l o ne a c c o un-
t e d f o r mo r e t ha n 65% o f t o t a l l o s s
o f c o ppe r i n t a i l i ngs a nd we r e r e s po ns i -
bl e f o r l o we r r e c o v e r i e s . F ur t he r t he
l o w r e c o v e r i e s ma y
pH o f t he pul p, whi c h i s
T he e a r l i e r wo r k
3
o n c o ppe r o x i de s
( ma i nl y ma l a c h' t e ) f r o m Ma l a nj k ha nd
de po s i t r e v e a l e d t he di s s o l ut i o n o f
c o ppe r a t ne ut r a l pH o f t he pul p. T he
I i s s o l v e d c o p pe r i o n s i n t he p u 1 P wa s
f o und t o c r e a t e di f f i c ul t i e s l i k e ga ngue
' t i v a t i o n ( l o w gr a de f l o a t ) a nd hi gh
r e a ge nt c o ns umpt i o n. 50 a s e pa r a t e
- ~t o f e x pe r i me nt s wa s c a r r i e d o ut t o
o s e r v e t he e f f e c t o f r e a ge nt c o nc e n-
t r a t i o n a nd pH o f t he pul p.
T he e f f e c t o f i s o pr o py l x a nt ha t e c o nc e n-
t r a t i o n o n t he f l o t a t i o n o f c o ppe r ,
k e e pi ng a l l t he o t he r c o ndi t i o ns t he
s a me a s a bo v e i s s ho wn i n T a bl e I V.
T he r e s ul t s s ho we d ne gl i gi bl e v a r i a t i o ns
i n bo t h r e c o v e r y a nd gr a de by i nc r e a s i ng
t he r e a ge nt c o nc e nt r a t i o n a nd po s s i bl y
t he c o l l e c t o r do s a ge ma y no t be t he
c a us e f o r po o r r e c o v e r i e s a t Ma l a nj k ha nd.
Ef f e c t o f I P X c o nc e nt r a t i o n
wi t ho ut s o di um s i l i c a t e a nd
wi t ho ut pH c o nt r o l
Or e 1000 gm
P i ne o i l . . . 0. 04 k g/ t o n
I P X Gr a de Re c o v e r y
k g/ t o n % %
0. 06 14. 0 73. 3
0. 10 16. 2 7 9 . 1
0. 15 16. 9 80. 5
0. 20 18. 3
81. 2
0. 25 18. 8 80. 6
0. 30 17. 9 79. 8
51.
No.
A s e t o f e x pe r i me nt s wa s c o nduc t e d a t
di f f e r e nt pH v a l ue s o f t he pul p a t
0. 25 k g/ t o n o f i s o pr o py l x a nt ha t e a nd
0. 04 k g/ t o n o f pi ne o i l . T he r e s ul t s
pr e s e nt e d i n T a bl e V i ndi c a t e a s l i ght
Ef f e c t o f pH wi t ho ut s o di um
s i l i c a t e
Co ndi t i o ns : Or e 1000 gm
0. 25 k g/ t o n
0. 04 k g/ t o n
Gr a de Re c o v e r y
% %
15. 80 81. 30
20. 61 83. 34
20. 80 86. 71
20. 20 86. 01
51. pH
No.
1 7. 0
2 8. 0
3 9. 0
4 10. 0
i mpr o v e me nt i n bo t h gr a de a nd r e c o v e r y
a t pH 9.0. T hi s i mpr o v e me nt mi ght be
a t t r i but e d t o t he f l o t a t i o n o f ma l a c hi t e
pr e s e nt i n t he o r e a s t he po i nt o f z e r o
c ha r ge ( P ZC) o f ma l a c hi t e l i e s a t a bo ut
pH 9. 4 a s r e po r t e d by At t i a
4
T hi s
f a c t i s i n a c c o r da nc e wi t h t he f i ndi ngs
o f t he a ut ho r s ' e a r l i e r wo r k o n t he
be ne f i c i a t i o n o f c o ppe r o x i de mi ne r a l s
3
.
T ho ugh t he r e c o v e r y
i mpr o v e d t o 86% a nd 20% Cu
wi t h t he mo di f i c a t i o n i n
pH, t he l o s s o f c o ppe r
a nd gr a de
r e s pe c t i v e l y
t he pul p a nd
i n t a i l i ngs
seriously affects the overall efficiency
of the plant. Further the silica in
the float can pose other metallurgical
problems. From the above experimental
results it was concluded that this type
of ore needs in depth flotation studies
using some modifiers/regulating agents/
selective collectors to reduce tailings
losses in the form of fines and to
reduce silica in float. Keeping this
in view further experiments were carried
out using various regulating agents.
The flotation experiments were carried
out with sodium silicate and other
modifiers such as guargum and Magnafloc
polymers.
flotation, at 0.25 kg/ton of isopropyl
xanthate, 0.04 kg/ton of pine oil and
at pH 9.0 is shown in Table VI. The addi-
tion of sodium silicate upto 1.5 kg/ton
Table VI Effect of sodium silicate
quantity
Conditions Ore 1000 gm
IPX 0.25 kg/ton
pH 9.2
Pine oil 0.04 kg/ton
S1 . Sod.Silicate Grade Recovery
No. kg/ton % %
1 0.5 21 .44 84.3
2 1 .0 23.46 85.2
3 1 .5 25.90 84.6
4 2.0 25.80 84.9
5 2.5 25.85 85.0
was found to result in remarkable impro-
vements in copper grade, without affect-
ing the recovery. The addition of sodium
silicate naturally resulted in an
increase in pH of the pulp due to its
basic nature. To verify the effect
of pH in the presence of sodium silicate,
a few more experiments were carried
out at different pH values of pulp,
keeping the other conditions same as
above.
Effect of pH in the presence of sod i urn
silicate
The experimental results at different
pH values of the pulp are shown in
Table VII, from which it is again clear
that the optimum pH is 9.0. It was
also observed that the quantity of
NaOH added to attain the pH 9.0 was not
appreciable due to the presence of
sodium silicate in the pulp. From the
Table VII: Effect of pH in the presence
of sodium silicate
. .. 1000 gm
... 0.25 kg/ton
... 1.5 kg/ton
... 0.04 kg/ton
IPX
Sod. silicate
Pine oil
S1 . pH Grade
No. %
1 7.0 17.0
2 7.5 17 .7
3 8.0 19.7
4 8.5 21 .3
5 9.0 25.4
6 9.5 23.6
7 10.0 20.2
78.0
80.0
85.0
84.4
85.2
85.0
86.1
Recovery
%
above studies it was concluded that
the presence of sodium silicate in the
pulp a-nd maintenance of pH at 9.0 can
yield better copper grades with good
recoveries (85%). For still better
recoveries it was felt necessary to
recover the copper values from the
finer fractions of the sample. For
this purpose a separate set of experi-
ment s was p1ann ed and car r ie1 0ut wit h
other regulating agents, consisting
mostly of polymers.
Effect of other regulating agents
The flotation experiments were carried
out with the addition of reagents
(polymers) such as guargum Magnafloc-140
T he r e s ul t s o bt a i ne d i n t he pr e s e nc e
o f v a r i o us r e gul a t i ng a ge nt s wi t h
0. 25 k g/ t o n o f i s o pr o py l x a nt ha t e , 0. 04
k g/ t o n o f pi ne o i l a nd a t pH 9. 0 wi t ho ut
de pr e s s a nt f o r s i l i c a a r e s ho wn i n
T a bl e VI I I . Gua r gum wa s c o mpa r a t i v e l y
T a bl e VI I I : Ef f e c t o f v a r i o us r e gul a t -
i ng a ge nt s wi t ho ut s o di um
s i l i c a t e t o r e c o v e r f i ne s
t he r e by r e c o v e r y
Co ndi t i o ns Or e 1000 gm
I P X 0. 25 k g/ t o n
pH 9.0
P i ne o i l 0. 04 k g/ t o n
Na me o f r e gul a t i ng
a ge nt a nd qua nt i t y
Gr a de
%
Re c o v e r y
%
Ma gna f l o c - 140
0. 010 k g/ t o n
Ma gna f l o c - 351
0. 010 k g/ t o n
Ce l l ul o s e x a nt ha t e
0. 010 k g/ t o n
Gua r gum
0. 250 k g/ t o n
mo r e e f f e c t i v e i n o bt a i ni ng be t t e r
c o ppe r r e c o v e r i e s t ha n o t he r r e gul a t i ng
a ge nt s .
I n t he l i ght o f t he a bo v e , f ur t he r
x pe r i me nt s we r e c a r r i e d o ut wi t h gua r -
a um a t di f f e r e nt c o nc e nt r a t i o ns bo t h
i t h a nd wi t ho ut s o di um s i l i c a t e , a nd
pH v a l ue s o f t he pul p.
r e c t o f gua r gum c o nc e nt r a t i o n
T he e f f e c t o f gua r gum c o nc e nt r a t i o n
o n t he f l o t a bi l i t y wi t h a nd wi t ho ut
s o di um s i l i c a t e i s s ho wn i n T a bl e I X( a )
a nd I X( b) r e s pe c t i v e l y . T he r e wa s no t
muc h v a r i a t i o n i n c o ppe r r e c o v e r y wi t h
i nc r e a s i ng gua r gum c o nc e nt r a t i o n a nd
a do s a ge o f 0. 25 k g/ t o n wa s f o und t o
be mo r e o pt i mum whe r e t he c o ppe r r e c o -
v e r y r a nge d f r o m 89- 90%. I t wa s a l s o
o bs e r v e d t ha t t he pr e s e nc e o f s o di um
s i l i c a t e i n t he pul p i mpr o v e d t he gr a de
by mo r e t ha n 2%.
Ef f e c t o f gua r gum c o nc e n-
t r a t i o n wi t ho ut s o di um
s i l i c a t e
Or e 1000
0. 25
9. 0
0. 04
gm
k g/ t o n I P X
pH
P i ne o i l
S 1 . Gua r gum
No . k g/ t o n
1 0. 05
2 0. 10
3 0. 15
4 0. 20
5 0. 25
6 0. 30
7 0. 35
Gr a de
%
Re c o v e r y
%
17. 3
18. 7
16. 6
17. 6
19. 9
18. 5
18. 3
83. 2
84. 1
84. 5
86. 8
89. 4
90. 3
88. 7
Ef f e c t o f gua r gum c o nc e n-
t r a t i o n i n pr e s e nc e o f
s o di um s i l i c a t e
Co ndi t i o ns Or e 1000 gm
I P X 0. 25 k g/ t o n
So d. s i l i c a t e . . 1 . 5 k g/ t o n
pH 9. 0
P i ne o i l 0. 04 k g/ t o n
S 1 . Gua r gum Gr a de Re c o v e r y
No . k g/ t o n % %
1 0. 05 21 . 2 84. 3
2 0. 10 22. 6 84. 2
3 0. 15 22. 9 88. 4
4 0. 20 22. 8 88. 7
5 0. 25 23. 0 89. 5
6 0. 30 23. 1 88. 8
7 0. 35 22. 9 90. 0
Ef f e c t o f pH i n t he pr e s e nc e o f gua r gum
a nd s o di um s i l i c a t e
f e w e x pe r i me nt s
di f f e r e nt pH
t he pr e s e nc e
o ut
pul p
t he
we r e
v a l ue s
gua r gum a nd
a r e s ho wn
T a bl e X. A s l i ght r e duc t i o n i n pH
o f t he pul p wa s no t i c e d a f t e r t he a ddi -
t i o n o f gua r gum. Ho we v e r , t he r e s ul t s
a ga i n c o nf i r me d t he o pt i mum pH t o be
a r o und 9. 0.
Ef f e c t o f pH i n t he pr e s e nc e
o f bo t h gua r gum a nd s o di um
s i l i c a t e
Co ndi t i o ns : Or e
I P X
1000 gm
0. 25 k g/ t o n
0. 25 k g/ t o n
1. 5 k g/ t o n
0. 04 k g/ t o n
Gua r gum
So d. s i l i c a t e . .
P i ne o i l
S 1 . pH Gr a de Re c o v e r y
No . % %
1 7. 0 19. 7 85. 5
2 8. 0
21. 1
86. 2
3 9. 0 23. 0 89. 5
4 10. 0 22. 1 87. 0
T he a bo v e s t udi e s r e s ul t e d i n s o me
i mpr o v e me nt i n bo t h gr a de a nd r e c o v e r y
by t he a ddi t i o n o f s o di um s i l i c a t e a nd
gua r gum a t pH 9. 0. As di s c us s e d e a r l i e r
t he i mpr o v e me nt i n gr a de ma y be due
t o t he a ddi t i o n o f s o di um s i l i c a t e ,
a de pr e s s a nt f o r s i l i c a , a nd be t t e r
r e c o v e r y due t o t he pH o f t he pul p a nd
gua r gum. F l o c c ul a t i o n o f f i ne s wa s
o bs e r v e d a f t e r t he a ddi t i o n o f gua r gum
but t he s e f l o c s ma y no t be s t a bl e t o
f l o a t c o mpl e t e l y due t o t ur bul e nc e
c a us e d by a gi t a t i o n a nd f ur t he r i mpr o v e -
me nt i n r e c o v e r y be y o nd 90% wa s no t
po s s i bl e . I t i s s ugge s t e d t ha t c o l umn
f l o t a t i o n t e c hni que ma y wo r k i n t hi s
c a s e , whe r e t he a gi t a t i o n t ur bul e nc e
i s ne gl i gi bl e . F ur t he r s t udi e s o n t he s e
l i ne s a r e c ur r e nt l y be i ng i nv e s t i ga t e d
i n o ur l a bo r a t o r y .
Che l a t i ng a ge nt s a r e po we r f ul , s e l e c t i v e
a nd s pe c i f i c c o l l e c t o r s i n f l o t a t i o n.
Ma ny r e s e a r c he r s ha v e i ndi c a t e d c l e a r l y
t he po s s i bi l i t y o f s ur f a c e c he l a t e s
f o r f l o a t i ng o t he r wi s e di f f i c ul t mi ne -
r a l s . Ea r l i e r wo r k ha s r e po r t e d t he
c o l l e c t o r a c t i o n o f s o di um di e t hy l di t hi o -
c a r ba ma t e i n t he f l o t a t i o n o f c ha l c o -
py r i t e
5
a nd c o ppe r o x i de s ma i nl y
ma l a c hi t e
3
.
I n t he pr e s e nt , c a s e s i nc e t he
o r e i s a mi x t ur e o f s ul phi de a nd o x i de
mi ne r a l s o f c o ppe r ( c hi e f l y c ha l c o py r i t e
a nd ma l a c hi t e ) , t he f l o t a t i o n e f f i c i e nc y
o f s o di um di e t hy l di t hi o c a r ba ma t e wa s
i nv e s t i ga t e d. T he e f f e c t o f t he r e a ge nt
c o nc e nt r a t i o n wa s s t udi e d a t pH 9. 0
wi t h 1. 5 k g/ t o n o f s o di um s i l i c a t e a nd
0. 04 k g/ t o n o f pi ne o i l . T he r e s ul t s
o bt a i ne d a r e pr e s e nt e d i n T a bl e XI
i ndi c a t i v e o f go o d gr a de a nd r e c o v e r y
o f c o ppe r . T ho ugh di t hi o c a r ba ma t e be l o ngs
T a bl e X I : Ef f e c t o f DT C c o nc e nt r a t i o n
Co ndi t i o ns Or e 1000 gm
So d. s i l i c a t e . .
1. 5
k g/ t o n
pH 9. 0
P i ne o i l 0. 04 k g/ t
S 1 . DT C Gr a de Re c o v e r y
No . k g/ t o n % %
1 0. 10 19. 9 63. 3
2 0. 20 19. 8 66. 2
3 0. 30 20. 2 72. 1
4 0. 40 19. 9 73. 8
5 0. 50 21 . 0 75. 0
6 0. 75 22. 7 79. 0
7
1. 00
24. 3 85. 8
8 1 . 50 24. 8 88. 3
9 2. 00 24. 9
91. 4
10 2. 50 25. 8 92. 3
J
t o a c a t e go r y o f x a nt ha t e s , t hi o ur i dp.
gr o up i n di e t hy l di t hi o c a r ba ma t e
r e s po ns i bl e f o r hi gh de gr e e o f s e l e c t i -
v i t y . Me s o me r i c e l e c t r o n r e l e a s '
t e nde nc y o f ( C2H5) 2- N- gr o up e nha nc e s
t he e l e c t r o n do na t i ng a bi l i t y t o me t a l
i o ns t o f a c i l i t a t e s t r o ng c o o r di na t i ng
bo nd wi t h me t a l i o n. Ho we v e r , t he o nl y
s e t ba c k wi t h t he us e o f s o di um di e t hy l -
di t hi o c a r ba ma t e i s i t s hi gh c o s t a nd
c o ns umpt i o n i n f l o t a t i o n.
F l o t a t i o n wi t h s o di um i s o pr o py l x a nt ha t e
f o l l o we d by s o di um di e t hy l di t hi o c a r ba -
ma t e
So me e x pe r i me nt s we r e c o nduc t e d a t
o pt i mum c o ndi t i o ns wi t h x a nt ha t e f o l l o we d
by flotation with DTC mainly to reduce
the consumption of DTC. Five identical
flotation experiments were performed
with xanthate 0.25 kg/ton, 0.15 kg/ton
sodium silicate and 0.04 kg/ton pine
oil at pH 9.0 in the first stage and
the tailings were refloated with dithio-
carbamate (0.05 kg/ton) only. The
average overall grade obtained was
16.8% copper with a recovery of 94.8 %.
The crushing/grinding operations with
Malanjkhand ore body generate more fines
resulting in poor copper recoveries
with lower grades of flotation concen-
trates. The studies carried out on
the ore body have revealed that the
pH of the pulp plays a vital role.
Flotation with sodium diethyldithio-
ORE - Cu : 3.05%
3 x 1 kg
I
:+ IPX - 0.25 kg/ton
+Sod. silicate - 1.5 kg/ton
Flotation + Guargum - 0.25 kg/ton
+pH - 9.0
+Pine oil - 0.04 kg/ton
Float - Cu:21.2%
Recovery : 92.7%
+ IPX - 0.1 kg/ton
+ Sod. silicate - 0.5 kg/ton
Float - Cu : 29.4 %
Recovery - 92.8%
Overall grade: 29.4 %
Overall recovery: 90.6%
and guargum
Amongst all the above experiments, the
trials with guargum may be considered
more economical and easily adoptable
in commercial plant practice. Specific
experiments were conducted including
cleaning of the float to study the
limits of grade and recovery of copper.
The flow sheet adopted in these trials
and the results obtained are indicated
in Figure 1.
carbamate yielded better results compa-
red to sodium isopropylxanthate. The
addition of modifier viz. guargum,
yielded excellent results for both grade
and recovery of copper possibly through
flocculation of slimes. This technique
could be easily adopted for the flota-
tion of Malanjkhand copper ores.
1. Lane White, Hindustan Copper Limited:
India's Copper Producer, E&MJ , J une
1985,p. 26-42.
2. Ghosh, S., Makode, M.N., Raju, M.S.
and Satyanarayana, K. Studies on
the investigation of copper losses
in the flotation plant tailings of
copper concentrator, Malanjkhand
Copper Project Proc. of the Int.
Conf. on Base Metal Tech., Nat. Met.
Lab., J amshedpur, India, 1989, p.
283-288.
3. Prabhakar, S., Bhaskar Raju, G. and
Khangaonkar, P.R. Studies on the
beneficiation of copper oxide minera-
ls, Proc. XVI Int. Min. Proc. Congo
Stockholm, ed. by K.S. Eric Forssberg,
Elsevier, 1988, p. 1267-1278.
4. Attia, V.A. Surface chemistry of
copper minerals in water, Trans.
Inst. Min. Met., Sec. C, Vol. 84,
1975, p. 221-230.
5. Bhaskar Raju, G and Khangaonkar,
P.R. Electroflotation of chalco-
pyrite fines with sodium diethyl-
dithiocarbamate as collector, Int.
J .Min. Process, Vol.13, 1984, p.211-
221 . (
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