704 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
SIBX had a lower performance in comparison to SEX at
the lower ionic strength. At 0 SPW an increase in collector
dosage increased both solids and water recoveries for both
collectors. At 3 SPW, the differences in solids and water
recoveries as collector dosage increased were negligible for
both collectors. At 5 SPW, SIBX once again had a negli-
gible change in recoveries. However, a decrease in recoveries
with an increase in collector dosage was observed for SEX.
EFFECT OF WATER QUALITY AND
COLLECTOR CHAIN-LENGTH ON
COPPER RECOVERIES AND GRADES
The total copper recoveries and grades for all conditions
are shown in Figure 2. There is no variation in the recov-
eries obtained as the ionic strength of water is increased
between the two collectors. At 100 g/t, the difference in
grade is more pronounced than at 50 g/t of the collector.
SEX obtains a higher grade than SIBX in tap water and 5
SPW. The highest grade is obtained by SEX in tap water
and is approximately 3.5%. At 3 SPW, the grade is the same
for both collectors. There is also a slight decrease in grade at
3 SPW between tap water and 5 SPW for both collectors.
Therefore, at all collector dosages, the copper recovery was
within the same range, 80%90%, and was unaffected by
an increase in the ionic strength of the water and collector
chain length. However, the grade did show some variation
in behaviour across the dosages. At dosages of 100 g/t and
150 g/t, SEX generally obtained higher grades than SIBX
when the grade at the same ionic strength was compared.
However, SIBX at 50 g/t and tap water achieved the highest
grade at that dosage. A dosage of 150 g/t recorded the low-
est grade amongst the dosages as the grades were below 3%
for all conditions aside from SEX at 5 SPW.
EFFECT OF WATER QUALITY AND
COLLECTOR CHAIN-LENGTH ON
NICKEL RECOVERIES AND GRADES
Figure 3 shows the nickel recoveries and grades for all con-
ditions. At 50 g/t and in increasing ionic strength of water,
it was observed that the nickel recoveries were similar to
each other, aside from results obtained in tap water. SIBX
in tap water was the lowest at 45% and SEX was the high-
est at approximately 55%. It was noted that for both 3 and
5 SPW, SEX achieved higher grades than SIBX. However,
in tap water, SIBX achieved the highest grade of approxi-
mately 4.8%, whilst achieving the lowest recovery. At 3 and
5 SPW, SIBX achieved the same grade, which was the low-
est of the six conditions at 3.5%. At 100 g/t, it was observed
that SEX had an increase in grade with an increase in the
ionic strength of the water with 5 SPW obtaining a grade
of approximately 4.6%. At 3 and 5 SPW, SEX obtained a
higher grade than SIBX at the same conditions, however,
SIBX in tap water performed better than SEX. SIBX in 3
SPW and SEX in tap water obtained the lowest grades of
3.7%. At a collector dosage of 150 g/t, the nickel recovery
did not change with an increase in the ionic strength of
Figure 1. Solids and water recoveries under 0, 3 and 5 SPW at collector dosages of 50, 100 and 150 g/t.
Error bars represent the standard error between duplicate tests
SIBX had a lower performance in comparison to SEX at
the lower ionic strength. At 0 SPW an increase in collector
dosage increased both solids and water recoveries for both
collectors. At 3 SPW, the differences in solids and water
recoveries as collector dosage increased were negligible for
both collectors. At 5 SPW, SIBX once again had a negli-
gible change in recoveries. However, a decrease in recoveries
with an increase in collector dosage was observed for SEX.
EFFECT OF WATER QUALITY AND
COLLECTOR CHAIN-LENGTH ON
COPPER RECOVERIES AND GRADES
The total copper recoveries and grades for all conditions
are shown in Figure 2. There is no variation in the recov-
eries obtained as the ionic strength of water is increased
between the two collectors. At 100 g/t, the difference in
grade is more pronounced than at 50 g/t of the collector.
SEX obtains a higher grade than SIBX in tap water and 5
SPW. The highest grade is obtained by SEX in tap water
and is approximately 3.5%. At 3 SPW, the grade is the same
for both collectors. There is also a slight decrease in grade at
3 SPW between tap water and 5 SPW for both collectors.
Therefore, at all collector dosages, the copper recovery was
within the same range, 80%90%, and was unaffected by
an increase in the ionic strength of the water and collector
chain length. However, the grade did show some variation
in behaviour across the dosages. At dosages of 100 g/t and
150 g/t, SEX generally obtained higher grades than SIBX
when the grade at the same ionic strength was compared.
However, SIBX at 50 g/t and tap water achieved the highest
grade at that dosage. A dosage of 150 g/t recorded the low-
est grade amongst the dosages as the grades were below 3%
for all conditions aside from SEX at 5 SPW.
EFFECT OF WATER QUALITY AND
COLLECTOR CHAIN-LENGTH ON
NICKEL RECOVERIES AND GRADES
Figure 3 shows the nickel recoveries and grades for all con-
ditions. At 50 g/t and in increasing ionic strength of water,
it was observed that the nickel recoveries were similar to
each other, aside from results obtained in tap water. SIBX
in tap water was the lowest at 45% and SEX was the high-
est at approximately 55%. It was noted that for both 3 and
5 SPW, SEX achieved higher grades than SIBX. However,
in tap water, SIBX achieved the highest grade of approxi-
mately 4.8%, whilst achieving the lowest recovery. At 3 and
5 SPW, SIBX achieved the same grade, which was the low-
est of the six conditions at 3.5%. At 100 g/t, it was observed
that SEX had an increase in grade with an increase in the
ionic strength of the water with 5 SPW obtaining a grade
of approximately 4.6%. At 3 and 5 SPW, SEX obtained a
higher grade than SIBX at the same conditions, however,
SIBX in tap water performed better than SEX. SIBX in 3
SPW and SEX in tap water obtained the lowest grades of
3.7%. At a collector dosage of 150 g/t, the nickel recovery
did not change with an increase in the ionic strength of
Figure 1. Solids and water recoveries under 0, 3 and 5 SPW at collector dosages of 50, 100 and 150 g/t.
Error bars represent the standard error between duplicate tests