Research on zinc concentrate dressing at the zhezkent processing plant to obtain conditioned concentrate

Abstract

The article investigates dressing of zinc concentrate of Zhezkent processing plant with the purpose of receiving conditioned zinc concentrate and copper product output. The scheme of the zinc concentrate ressing is suggested which includes the following operations: desorption of the initial concentrate by sodium sulfide and activated carbon; preliminary hydraulic classification (washing of thin sludge) complicating the flotation process; comminution of the concentrate in a ball mill up to the size of 96 %, class - 0,044 mm; flotation of copper minerals by reagents: xanthate, Methyl isobutyl ketone blowing agent, and depressors (Na2S, FeSO4, ZnSO4). The proposed dressing scheme provides obtaining conditioned zinc concentrate of grade KC-3 with Zn 47,0 %, and Cu 1,9 %.

Keywords

• zinc concentrate
• hydraulic classification
• sludge
• flotation
• copper product