Effect of Aerated Stirring Pretreatment on the Flotation Separation of Chalcopyrite and Pyrrhotite

Abstract

Aerated stirring pretreatment to achieve effective flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite has been studied in this paper. It is mainly investigated the relationship between the dosing sequence, mixing time and aeration rate and the recovery rate of chalcopyrite. The results of the study show that the effect of adding chemicals before aerated stirring is better than that of adding chemicals after aerated stirring; the increase of aeration rate helps to increase the recovery rate of chalcopyrite, and the recovery rate changes gentle after the rate reaches 2 m3/h ; the recovery rate of chalcopyrite increases with the increase of stirring time within 0~35 min of stirring, and the recovery rate reaches highest at 35 min and then tends to be gentle. The possible reason for the analysis of the above phenomenon is that the oxidation of pyrrhotite consumes the oxygen in the pulp, resulting in insufficient oxygen in the pulp to participate in the adsorption process of xanthate on chalcopyrite surface. After the slurry is filled with air, the oxygen in the air participates in the surface oxidation of pyrrhotite, thereby ensuring that there is enough oxygen in the slurry to participate in the adsorption process of xanthate on the surface of chalcopyrite, thereby increasing the chalcopyrite’s recovery rate.

Keywords

• aeration
• recovery
• pulp
• absorption
• oxygen