3
mass recovery is even more than with the standard primary
collector with a change from 12.1% to a 16%.
Changes of 5% to 6% in total copper recovery mean
roughly a 10% proportional improvement in the process
but also there are other strategies than can be applied which
will be discussed later.
During the mineralogical study it was observed a 4%
content of “clays” corresponds to Kaolinite and Smectite.
Some research has been done in the used of small amounts
of NaSH to improve metallurgical performance in presence
on these clays. Also, another effect of NaSH is to increase
hydrophobicity of secondary copper sulphides.
For this reason, it was tested the use of NaSH and
Floticor DP 702 (a process aid reagent to improve collec-
tor’s performance) both at 50 g/t.
Results with Floticor DP 702 shown on Figure 5 indi-
cate the addition of it into the reagents scheme can improve
copper recovery by 13.9% also increasing silver recovery by
13.8%. On the other hand, there is higher mass recovery
going from 12.1% to 16.8%. By changing secondary col-
lector for Hostaflot PD 883 and using Floticor PD 702 the
copper increase can be as high as 14.2% and mass recovery
only raises to 16.4%.
Results with NaSH shown in Figure 6 indicate higher
copper recovery (by 18%) and higher silver recovery (17%)
but mass recovery spikes to 17.7%. Changing secondary
collector by Hostaflot 883 and NaSH shows even higher
recoveries for both copper and silver but again with mass
recovery as high as 18.8%.
CONCLUSIONS
After 3 different approaches, some improvement can be
done regarding the copper recovery (and also silver) but the
Figure 4. Metallurgical results with different collectors
Figure 5. Metallurgical results with Floticor DP 702
mass recovery is even more than with the standard primary
collector with a change from 12.1% to a 16%.
Changes of 5% to 6% in total copper recovery mean
roughly a 10% proportional improvement in the process
but also there are other strategies than can be applied which
will be discussed later.
During the mineralogical study it was observed a 4%
content of “clays” corresponds to Kaolinite and Smectite.
Some research has been done in the used of small amounts
of NaSH to improve metallurgical performance in presence
on these clays. Also, another effect of NaSH is to increase
hydrophobicity of secondary copper sulphides.
For this reason, it was tested the use of NaSH and
Floticor DP 702 (a process aid reagent to improve collec-
tor’s performance) both at 50 g/t.
Results with Floticor DP 702 shown on Figure 5 indi-
cate the addition of it into the reagents scheme can improve
copper recovery by 13.9% also increasing silver recovery by
13.8%. On the other hand, there is higher mass recovery
going from 12.1% to 16.8%. By changing secondary col-
lector for Hostaflot PD 883 and using Floticor PD 702 the
copper increase can be as high as 14.2% and mass recovery
only raises to 16.4%.
Results with NaSH shown in Figure 6 indicate higher
copper recovery (by 18%) and higher silver recovery (17%)
but mass recovery spikes to 17.7%. Changing secondary
collector by Hostaflot 883 and NaSH shows even higher
recoveries for both copper and silver but again with mass
recovery as high as 18.8%.
CONCLUSIONS
After 3 different approaches, some improvement can be
done regarding the copper recovery (and also silver) but the
Figure 4. Metallurgical results with different collectors
Figure 5. Metallurgical results with Floticor DP 702