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Enrichment Feasibility of Tellurides Hosted in Pyrite:
A Copper Processing Tailings Case Study
J. Corchado-Albelo, F. Nakhaei
Missouri University of Science &Technology
L. Alagha, M. Moats, M. Locmelis
Missouri University of Science &Technology
Thomas J. O’Keefe Institute for Sustainable Supply of Strategic Minerals
ABSTRACT: This study examined the potential enrichment of tellurides hosted in pyrite lost to copper
tailings (CT) during the froth flotation process of copper porphyry ores (CP). The automated mineralogy
of CT revealed that 93% of tellurium (Te) minerals were hosted in pyrite, suggesting that the froth flotation
process could enrich tellurides hosted in pyrite prior to further processing to separate tellurides. To optimize the
flotation process, conventional reagents, including xanthate, carbamate, thiophosphate, and thiazole collectors,
and carbinol, terpineol, and glycol frothers, were tested using bench-scale flotation of CT. Findings from the
bench flotation tests indicated that the best Te enrichment was achieved with thiophosphate collectors. The
optimal conditions yielded 79% recovery and 0.5 ppm grade for Te, 61.63% recovery and 0.73 ppm for silver
(Ag), and 60.56% recovery and 0.112 ppm for gold (Au) using a 150 g/ton of thiophosphate collector and 50 g/
ton of MIBC frother.
INTRODUCTION
The global transition towards sustainable and clean energy
sources has heightened the importance of critical miner-
als, with tellurium (Te) emerging as a key component due
to its integral role in cadmium-telluride (CdTe) thin-film
solar photovoltaics (PVs) (Li et al. 2022 Flanagan 2023
Bauer, Nguyen, and Smith 2023). It is anticipated that
40% of global Te production will be allocated to CdTe
thin-film solar PVs. The demand for Te is projected to rise
between 450 and 1,150 tons per year in the short term
in 2025 and increase to between 685 and 1,910 tons per
year in the medium term by 2035 (Bauer, Nguyen, and
Smith 2023). The rise in demand for Te, especially in the
short to medium term, is dependent mainly on future solar
PV installation and CdTe market share growth potential
shortages looming, this study aims to contribute valuable
insights to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the
Te supply chain in the pursuit of clean energy technologies
(Bauer, Nguyen, and Smith 2023 Flanagan 2023). The
change in the commodity supply chains associated with
the transition from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy
sources is of increased concern when looking at secure
and ethical sourcing/supply of specialized commodities.
Therefore, many governments and private sectors classify
these commodities, such as Te, as critical minerals (DOE
2010 Federal Register 2020 Nassar, Alonso, and Brainard
2020 Parthemore 2011 Moss et al. 2013 Peck 2019
Enrichment Feasibility of Tellurides Hosted in Pyrite:
A Copper Processing Tailings Case Study
J. Corchado-Albelo, F. Nakhaei
Missouri University of Science &Technology
L. Alagha, M. Moats, M. Locmelis
Missouri University of Science &Technology
Thomas J. O’Keefe Institute for Sustainable Supply of Strategic Minerals
ABSTRACT: This study examined the potential enrichment of tellurides hosted in pyrite lost to copper
tailings (CT) during the froth flotation process of copper porphyry ores (CP). The automated mineralogy
of CT revealed that 93% of tellurium (Te) minerals were hosted in pyrite, suggesting that the froth flotation
process could enrich tellurides hosted in pyrite prior to further processing to separate tellurides. To optimize the
flotation process, conventional reagents, including xanthate, carbamate, thiophosphate, and thiazole collectors,
and carbinol, terpineol, and glycol frothers, were tested using bench-scale flotation of CT. Findings from the
bench flotation tests indicated that the best Te enrichment was achieved with thiophosphate collectors. The
optimal conditions yielded 79% recovery and 0.5 ppm grade for Te, 61.63% recovery and 0.73 ppm for silver
(Ag), and 60.56% recovery and 0.112 ppm for gold (Au) using a 150 g/ton of thiophosphate collector and 50 g/
ton of MIBC frother.
INTRODUCTION
The global transition towards sustainable and clean energy
sources has heightened the importance of critical miner-
als, with tellurium (Te) emerging as a key component due
to its integral role in cadmium-telluride (CdTe) thin-film
solar photovoltaics (PVs) (Li et al. 2022 Flanagan 2023
Bauer, Nguyen, and Smith 2023). It is anticipated that
40% of global Te production will be allocated to CdTe
thin-film solar PVs. The demand for Te is projected to rise
between 450 and 1,150 tons per year in the short term
in 2025 and increase to between 685 and 1,910 tons per
year in the medium term by 2035 (Bauer, Nguyen, and
Smith 2023). The rise in demand for Te, especially in the
short to medium term, is dependent mainly on future solar
PV installation and CdTe market share growth potential
shortages looming, this study aims to contribute valuable
insights to ensure the sustainability and resilience of the
Te supply chain in the pursuit of clean energy technologies
(Bauer, Nguyen, and Smith 2023 Flanagan 2023). The
change in the commodity supply chains associated with
the transition from fossil fuels to more sustainable energy
sources is of increased concern when looking at secure
and ethical sourcing/supply of specialized commodities.
Therefore, many governments and private sectors classify
these commodities, such as Te, as critical minerals (DOE
2010 Federal Register 2020 Nassar, Alonso, and Brainard
2020 Parthemore 2011 Moss et al. 2013 Peck 2019