RIVS Science and Production Association, Ural Office:

Nemchinova L. A., Head of Research Laboratory, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: L.Nemchinova@mail.ru

RIVS Science and Production Association:

Zimin A. V., Head of Research Laboratory, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: rivs@rivs.ru

The article reports the research into purposeful alteration of surface properties of sphalerite and pyrite using a package of thermomechanical actions. The technology of zinc concentrate quality improvement without zinc recovery reduction has been developed and recommended for modernization of operating copperzinc ore processing plants. The experimental data on copper-zinc ore flotation have shown that sphalerite and pyrite present at the final process stages of collective–selective flotation possess equal kinetics of floatability. This is particularly obvious in zinc flotation cycle, where pyrite is only depressed with lime and blue copperas activates both sphalerite and pyrite, which results in that quality of zinc concentrate is not higher than 46–48%. It is known that flotation behavior of sulfide minerals depends on the strength of the bond between a collector and a mineral surface adsorption property of which is governed by energy condition of the surface atoms. In fine grinding down to first tens of micron, the surface of sulfide minerals undergoes significant changes both due to deformation and decrystallization of crystalline structure, and as a consequence of oxidation of newly formed particles and sorption of cation–anion components from fluid phase of flotation pulp. Inclusion of only regrinding in zinc cycle produces no desired output, therefore, one of potential ways of controlling separation of minerals with similar process properties and for improved selectivity of mineral dressing, complementary to modifying reagents, is application of purely physicochemical methods where such techniques as aerification, oxidation-heat conditioning and mechanical activation belong. The authors have studied the flow and mechanisms of a package of physicochemical processes ensuring efficient separation of pyrite and sphalerite and higher recovery of commercial components in copper–zinc ore dressing.

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