XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 2425
might still be too large to float or do not remain attached
to bubbles for their recovery. More hydrophobic emulsi-
fiers and/or higher emulsion dosages could be studied to
enhance copper recovery and grade.
CONCLUSION
Coarse particle flotation of copper-gold ore samples with
just kerosene and with emulsified kerosene droplets was
investigated. The results showed that the conventional
collector PAX failed to float coarse particles, while the
kerosene and kerosene emulsion both improved the grade
and recovery from a coarse feed, most likely by enhanc-
ing bubble-particle attachment and decreasing detachment.
The flotation with just kerosene has a slightly higher cop-
per recovery and grade than that of the emulsion as a novel
collector. The highest copper recovery is observed from the
flotation test with 10 μL kerosene while the lowest copper
recovery is observed from the test with the 40 μL emulsion.
The study shows that kerosene could be a suitable collector
for the flotation of coarse copper-bearing minerals.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to Elizaveta Forbes (University of Queensland)
for supplying the ore sample. The authors acknowledge
funding support from the Australian Government for
the Melbourne Research Scholarship and the Australian
Research Council (ARC) for the ARC Centre of Excellence
for Enabling EcoEfficient Beneficiation of Minerals, grant
number CE200100009. The authors also acknowledge
the technical staff of the University of Melbourne MCFP
(Materials Characterisation &Fabrication Platform) for
XRF, Mastersizer, and Zetaprobe training. Thanks to Elaine
Wightman (University of Queensland) for conducting
the MLA.
Figure 6. The P80 of the samples as a function of grinding
time
Table 6. The percent of liberated chalcopyrite for different
size fractions
Size Class, µm %of Liberated Particles
+150 63.6
106–150 76.3
75–106 79.3
45 –75 81.0
–45 93.4
Figure 7. Copper recovery and grade with the emulsion and kerosene
might still be too large to float or do not remain attached
to bubbles for their recovery. More hydrophobic emulsi-
fiers and/or higher emulsion dosages could be studied to
enhance copper recovery and grade.
CONCLUSION
Coarse particle flotation of copper-gold ore samples with
just kerosene and with emulsified kerosene droplets was
investigated. The results showed that the conventional
collector PAX failed to float coarse particles, while the
kerosene and kerosene emulsion both improved the grade
and recovery from a coarse feed, most likely by enhanc-
ing bubble-particle attachment and decreasing detachment.
The flotation with just kerosene has a slightly higher cop-
per recovery and grade than that of the emulsion as a novel
collector. The highest copper recovery is observed from the
flotation test with 10 μL kerosene while the lowest copper
recovery is observed from the test with the 40 μL emulsion.
The study shows that kerosene could be a suitable collector
for the flotation of coarse copper-bearing minerals.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Thanks to Elizaveta Forbes (University of Queensland)
for supplying the ore sample. The authors acknowledge
funding support from the Australian Government for
the Melbourne Research Scholarship and the Australian
Research Council (ARC) for the ARC Centre of Excellence
for Enabling EcoEfficient Beneficiation of Minerals, grant
number CE200100009. The authors also acknowledge
the technical staff of the University of Melbourne MCFP
(Materials Characterisation &Fabrication Platform) for
XRF, Mastersizer, and Zetaprobe training. Thanks to Elaine
Wightman (University of Queensland) for conducting
the MLA.
Figure 6. The P80 of the samples as a function of grinding
time
Table 6. The percent of liberated chalcopyrite for different
size fractions
Size Class, µm %of Liberated Particles
+150 63.6
106–150 76.3
75–106 79.3
45 –75 81.0
–45 93.4
Figure 7. Copper recovery and grade with the emulsion and kerosene