2364 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
where Pc is the collision probability, C is the constant, Dp is
the particle size, Db is the bubble size. This equation shows
that as the particle size of copper minerals become coarser,
the collision probability increases. Matsuoka et al., (2023)
focused on the agglomeration as a method to increase
the collision probability of fine particles and conducted
agglomeration tests using the chalcopyrite specimen and
the copper concentrate mainly composed of chalcopyrite.
The results showed that increase of collector dosage and
pulp density, and addition of coarse copper mineral par-
ticles (i.e., carrier particle) had good effect on agglomera-
tion. Therefore, in this study, we targeted complex copper
concentrate containing three types of fine copper minerals
(bornite, chalcocite, and chalcopyrite) and confirmed the
agglomeration improved the flotation rate and recovery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
Fine Copper Concentrate Samples
A Chilean copper concentrate containing bornite, chalcoc-
ite, and chalcopyrite was used for fine samples. The chemi-
cal and mineral composition determined with Atomic
Absorption Spectroscope (AAS, A-2000, Hitachi HighTech
Co.) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission
Spectrometer (ICP-AES, Optima 5300 DV,
PerkinElmer Inc.) and Mineral Liberation Analyzer
(MLA 650, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.) are shown in
Table 1 and 2. A 80% cumulative particle size, D80, is
24 µm.
Coarse Copper Concentrate Samples
A Chilean copper concentrate containing chalcopyrite was
used for coarse samples. The chemical and mineral com-
position are shown in Table 3 and 4. A 80% cumulative
particle size, D80, is 84 µm.
AGGLOMERATION TESTS
An Agitair-type 1.75 L flotation cell (Essa FTM101,
FLSmidth) was used for the agglomeration tests. The fine
sample and water were added into the cell, and the slurry
volume and pulp density were adjusted to 1 L and 6.7wt%.
The slurry was agitated by using an impeller at 900 rpm
and 15 min-conditioning for agglomeration was carried
out (Table 5). A small amount of slurry was sampled after
the conditioning, and the dispersed and agglomerated par-
ticle size distributions were measured by Laser Micron Sizer
(LMS-2000e, SEISHIN ENTERPRISE Co., Ltd.). The
dispersed particle size was measured in an ethanol solvent
after ultrasonication, and the agglomerated particle size was
measured in a water solvent.
Table 1. Chemical composition [wt%] of the fine copper
concentrate sample
Cu Fe S
27 5.9 11
Table 2. Distribution [wt%] of bornite, chalcocite, and
chalcopyrite in the copper sulfides
Bornite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite
63 24 13
Table 3. Chemical composition [wt%] of the coarse copper
concentrate sample
Cu Fe S
28 31 33
Table 4. Distribution [wt%] of bornite, chalcocite, and
chalcopyrite in the copper sulfides
Bornite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite
0.45 — 99
Table 5. The agglomeration conditions
Collector Dosage,
g/t-Fine Sample Pulp Density, wt%
Carrier Particle to
Fine Sample Ratio
1. Collector* dosage 0
100
2,000
4,000
6.7 0
2. Pulp density 100 8.0
10
15
0
3. Carrier particle addition 100 8.0
10
15
0.20
0.52
1.4
*Collector: diisobutyl dithiophosphate (AERO 3477 Promoter, Solvay S.A.)
where Pc is the collision probability, C is the constant, Dp is
the particle size, Db is the bubble size. This equation shows
that as the particle size of copper minerals become coarser,
the collision probability increases. Matsuoka et al., (2023)
focused on the agglomeration as a method to increase
the collision probability of fine particles and conducted
agglomeration tests using the chalcopyrite specimen and
the copper concentrate mainly composed of chalcopyrite.
The results showed that increase of collector dosage and
pulp density, and addition of coarse copper mineral par-
ticles (i.e., carrier particle) had good effect on agglomera-
tion. Therefore, in this study, we targeted complex copper
concentrate containing three types of fine copper minerals
(bornite, chalcocite, and chalcopyrite) and confirmed the
agglomeration improved the flotation rate and recovery.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Materials
Fine Copper Concentrate Samples
A Chilean copper concentrate containing bornite, chalcoc-
ite, and chalcopyrite was used for fine samples. The chemi-
cal and mineral composition determined with Atomic
Absorption Spectroscope (AAS, A-2000, Hitachi HighTech
Co.) and Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission
Spectrometer (ICP-AES, Optima 5300 DV,
PerkinElmer Inc.) and Mineral Liberation Analyzer
(MLA 650, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc.) are shown in
Table 1 and 2. A 80% cumulative particle size, D80, is
24 µm.
Coarse Copper Concentrate Samples
A Chilean copper concentrate containing chalcopyrite was
used for coarse samples. The chemical and mineral com-
position are shown in Table 3 and 4. A 80% cumulative
particle size, D80, is 84 µm.
AGGLOMERATION TESTS
An Agitair-type 1.75 L flotation cell (Essa FTM101,
FLSmidth) was used for the agglomeration tests. The fine
sample and water were added into the cell, and the slurry
volume and pulp density were adjusted to 1 L and 6.7wt%.
The slurry was agitated by using an impeller at 900 rpm
and 15 min-conditioning for agglomeration was carried
out (Table 5). A small amount of slurry was sampled after
the conditioning, and the dispersed and agglomerated par-
ticle size distributions were measured by Laser Micron Sizer
(LMS-2000e, SEISHIN ENTERPRISE Co., Ltd.). The
dispersed particle size was measured in an ethanol solvent
after ultrasonication, and the agglomerated particle size was
measured in a water solvent.
Table 1. Chemical composition [wt%] of the fine copper
concentrate sample
Cu Fe S
27 5.9 11
Table 2. Distribution [wt%] of bornite, chalcocite, and
chalcopyrite in the copper sulfides
Bornite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite
63 24 13
Table 3. Chemical composition [wt%] of the coarse copper
concentrate sample
Cu Fe S
28 31 33
Table 4. Distribution [wt%] of bornite, chalcocite, and
chalcopyrite in the copper sulfides
Bornite Chalcocite Chalcopyrite
0.45 — 99
Table 5. The agglomeration conditions
Collector Dosage,
g/t-Fine Sample Pulp Density, wt%
Carrier Particle to
Fine Sample Ratio
1. Collector* dosage 0
100
2,000
4,000
6.7 0
2. Pulp density 100 8.0
10
15
0
3. Carrier particle addition 100 8.0
10
15
0.20
0.52
1.4
*Collector: diisobutyl dithiophosphate (AERO 3477 Promoter, Solvay S.A.)