2482 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
CONCLUSIONS
• Laboratory tests show an increase in copper recovery
of 2.7 and 1.2% for minerals A and B respectively.
• The insoluble grade in the Rougher concentrate
obtained in the laboratory tests increases by 10.8 and
4.3% for mineral A and B respectively.
• The results of rougher copper recovery in the plant
indicate an increase of 2% at P80 values greater than
200 microns in both ranges of feed grades, like what
was evidenced at laboratory scale.
• During the industrial test, no qualitative effects of
over foaming were observed in the cleaning circuit
when using MIBC in conjunction with Solvay’s
T-100 frother.
• When processing complex minerals, with a higher K
factor, an improvement in foam stability is observed
when using the Oreprep T-100 reagent.
Another relevant point when processing complex min-
erals is the loss of foaming that occurs in rougher flotation,
as seen in Figure 8, which is substantially improved when
applying the Oreprep T-100 reagent. This change not only
improves copper recovery, but also improves foam and over-
flow stability of the rougher flotation circuit cells.
Currently the reagent is validated as part of the opera-
tion strategy in Caserones, where it has been seen that at
effective treatments of the SAG mill greater than 4500 t/h
the role of this reagent is essential, which has led to using
higher doses improving metallurgical recovery.
Figure 8. Qualitative comparison between the use of frothers with complex ores (a) only MIBC, (b) with MIBC (left) and
MIBC plus Oreprep T-100 (right)
CONCLUSIONS
• Laboratory tests show an increase in copper recovery
of 2.7 and 1.2% for minerals A and B respectively.
• The insoluble grade in the Rougher concentrate
obtained in the laboratory tests increases by 10.8 and
4.3% for mineral A and B respectively.
• The results of rougher copper recovery in the plant
indicate an increase of 2% at P80 values greater than
200 microns in both ranges of feed grades, like what
was evidenced at laboratory scale.
• During the industrial test, no qualitative effects of
over foaming were observed in the cleaning circuit
when using MIBC in conjunction with Solvay’s
T-100 frother.
• When processing complex minerals, with a higher K
factor, an improvement in foam stability is observed
when using the Oreprep T-100 reagent.
Another relevant point when processing complex min-
erals is the loss of foaming that occurs in rougher flotation,
as seen in Figure 8, which is substantially improved when
applying the Oreprep T-100 reagent. This change not only
improves copper recovery, but also improves foam and over-
flow stability of the rougher flotation circuit cells.
Currently the reagent is validated as part of the opera-
tion strategy in Caserones, where it has been seen that at
effective treatments of the SAG mill greater than 4500 t/h
the role of this reagent is essential, which has led to using
higher doses improving metallurgical recovery.
Figure 8. Qualitative comparison between the use of frothers with complex ores (a) only MIBC, (b) with MIBC (left) and
MIBC plus Oreprep T-100 (right)