Mining Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences Kola Science Center, Apatity, Russia:

G. V. Mitrofanova, Lead Researcher, Candidate of Engineering Sciences, e-mail: atletik-2010@yandex.ru
E. V. Chernousenko, Research Fellow
Е. А. Bazarova, Engineer

Kola Mining and Metallurgical Company JSC, Monchegorsk, Russia:
A. P. Tyukin, Chief of the Projects, Technical Department, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

The authors propose to use new complexing reagents in the flotation of sulphide ores of nonferrous metals — monohydroxyamide and monohydrazide of alkenyl succinic acid. The reagents were synthesized through reaction of alkenyl succinic anhydride with the corresponding nucleophilic reagent. Complexes of monohydroxyamide and monohydrazide of 2-ethylhexenyl succinic acid with nickel and copper were synthesized. Based on the infrared spectroscopy data for the obtained compounds, the authors came up with the proposed structure of the complexes. The flotation tests were carried out on a sample of complex finely disseminated copper-nickel ore from the Pechenga ore field with the following composition: 0.495% Ni, 0.211% Cu. According to the X-ray phase analysis, the proportion of the main sulphide minerals in the ore was 4.5%, including 2.6% of pyrrhotite, 1.4% of pentlandite, and 0.5% of chalcopyrite; the rock-forming minerals include serpentine, pyroxene, amphiboles, talc and olivine. The properties of the reagents were studied in relation to the flotation pH. The use of the proposed reagents (instead of aerofloats) in the collecting mixture is shown to provide an increase in the nickel extraction into the copper-nickel concentrate. The use of 2-ethylhexenyl succinic acid monohydroxyamide in the open cycle flotation resulted in the production of concentrate containing 7.06% Ni and 3.83% Cu with the recovery of 43.98% and 58.81%, respectively. When 2-ethylhexenyl succinic acid monohydrazide is used as a collector, the resultant concentrate contains 7.53% Ni and 4.26% Cu and the recovery is 41.73% and 57.80%, respectively. Comparison of the results obtained from the use of the proposed reagents vs using aerofloats suggests that such bifunctional compounds can potentially be used as collectors in sulphide ore flotation.

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