XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3 3011
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Marmatite-Pyrite/Pyrrhotite Selective Flotation Tests
The marmatite-pyrite/pyrrhotite selective flotation were
carried out under following three scenarios, the flotation
results are shown in Figure 2. The initial Eh and pH of fresh
pulp was about 65 mV and 6, respectively.
Scenario 1: Pyrite/pyrrhottite depression with CaO,
followed by marmatite activation with CuSO4, using BX
as collector under mechanical stirring conditions. The
rougher concentrate of Zn graded and recovery was only
0.79% and 1.83%, respectively but contained 52.08% S
with 26.48% S recovery, which was clearly inconsistent
with expected results as well as universal results in other lit-
erature (Li et al., 2012 Qin et al., 2008 Wei et al., 2021).
Note that pulp pH in this scenario rapidly increased from
around 6 to above 12.0 while pulp redox potential rapidly
decreased from about 65 mV to –300 mV after adding
6500 g/t CaO. After that, the pulp Eh slowly increased
from about –300 mV to –180 mV as mechanical stirring
continued and the CuSO4 was added to pulp (Figure 3A).
The initial DO of fresh pulp was almost 0 mg/L because
Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Scenario
Zn grade
S grade
Zn recovery
S recovery
Figure 2. The flotation results with pulp potential regulation during sulfur depression.
Permission from Li et al. (2023a)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
-350
-300
-250
-200
-150
-100
-50
0
50
100
150
Time (min)
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
A CaO-depression Copper-activation
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Time (min)
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
B CaO-depression Copper-activation
Figure 3. The change of Eh (A) along with time and its relationship with DO (B). Permission from Li et al. (2023a)
Grade/Recovery
(%)
Pulp
potential
(mv
vs.
SHE)
Dissolved
oxygen
(mg
/
L)
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Marmatite-Pyrite/Pyrrhotite Selective Flotation Tests
The marmatite-pyrite/pyrrhotite selective flotation were
carried out under following three scenarios, the flotation
results are shown in Figure 2. The initial Eh and pH of fresh
pulp was about 65 mV and 6, respectively.
Scenario 1: Pyrite/pyrrhottite depression with CaO,
followed by marmatite activation with CuSO4, using BX
as collector under mechanical stirring conditions. The
rougher concentrate of Zn graded and recovery was only
0.79% and 1.83%, respectively but contained 52.08% S
with 26.48% S recovery, which was clearly inconsistent
with expected results as well as universal results in other lit-
erature (Li et al., 2012 Qin et al., 2008 Wei et al., 2021).
Note that pulp pH in this scenario rapidly increased from
around 6 to above 12.0 while pulp redox potential rapidly
decreased from about 65 mV to –300 mV after adding
6500 g/t CaO. After that, the pulp Eh slowly increased
from about –300 mV to –180 mV as mechanical stirring
continued and the CuSO4 was added to pulp (Figure 3A).
The initial DO of fresh pulp was almost 0 mg/L because
Scenario 1 Scenario 2 Scenario 3
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
Scenario
Zn grade
S grade
Zn recovery
S recovery
Figure 2. The flotation results with pulp potential regulation during sulfur depression.
Permission from Li et al. (2023a)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
-350
-300
-250
-200
-150
-100
-50
0
50
100
150
Time (min)
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
A CaO-depression Copper-activation
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
Time (min)
Scenario 1
Scenario 2
Scenario 3
B CaO-depression Copper-activation
Figure 3. The change of Eh (A) along with time and its relationship with DO (B). Permission from Li et al. (2023a)
Grade/Recovery
(%)
Pulp
potential
(mv
vs.
SHE)
Dissolved
oxygen
(mg
/
L)