Study On Electrochemistry Flotation Behavior Of Chalcopyrite-Pentlandite

With the development of national economy, the requirement for non-ferrous metals and the high quality mineral raw materials is rising continuously while the mineral resources is increasingly poor, small, complex.The traditional separation operation became more and more difficult. Electrochemistry flotation with the characteristics of efficient separation, low-cost, less pollution, is one of the major mineral processing technology for sulphide minerals in the future.There are large scale complexity of poverty copper-nickel sulfide ore in China, for example, more than 60% ore of low grade ore in Jinchuan mine cannot be processed represent. While these resource is very difficulty to exploit economically by using traditional flotation technology. Therefore, it is needs to research the basic electrochemistry theory and potential controlled flotation technology of such ore. This study is focus on electrochemistry flotation behavior of pentlandite, chalcopyrite and mechanism of pentlandite surface. All these kinds of actions including thermodynamics, external control flotation and electrochemical corrosion and other means.Main research results are as follows:1,The speed of flotation machine is 1870r/min. Platinum nets is in central of flotation tank. the outside control potential polarization time is determined by differences of the plus potential and initial solution;2,Under external control potential, pentlandite floatation potential is between 700mV～100mV in acid solution with collectorless flotation, while pentlandite without flotation potential in the alkaline solution. When add xanthate in the pentlandite slurry, The flotation behavior in the acid solution is better than in the alkaline solution. When add methyl sulphonamide in the pentlandite slurry, pentlandite floatation potential is between -400mV～0mV in acid solution and no floatation potential zone in the alkaline solution;3,The flotation of chalcopyrite is very well in far-ranging potential in the acid solution under external control potential. Too high potential or too low potential will restrain copper's flotation. When add xanthate or methyl sulphonamide, the recovery of copper is very high both in the acid solution and in the alkaline solution;4,The best condition of chalcopyrite-pentlandite separation under external control potential are follow:collectorless flotation, pH=10, external control potential is about 100mV; when add methyl sulphonamide, the external control potential is need 200mV, we will get copper concentrate containing nickel 1.83%, copper 31.90% and nickel ore concentrate containing nickel 31.37%, copper 1.85%. Copper and nickel of recovery respectively for 94.6% and 94.3%. Separation of chalcopyrite and pentlandite works well.5,Under the same pH, chalcopyrite ore pulp potential higher than that of pentlandite; While in the same medium grinding, the pulp potential in the methyl sulphonamide is lower than xanthate; Collector under low pH value of ore pulp potential is above the high pH values of pulp;6,Pentlandite flotation recovery is lower in iron medium grinding than ceramic media. While the flotation behavior of chalcopyrite is effectless by grinding medium. The flotation behavior of pentlandite in alkaline solution is lower than in acidic solution, the flotation of chalcopyrite is similar in acidic solution and in the alkaline solution;7,The best condition of chalcopyrite-pentlandite separation under orginpotential are follow:alkaline solution, ceramic media grinding, with methyl sulphonamide, orginpotential is about -20mV; we will get copper ore concentrate containing nickel 10.23%, copper 23.96% and nickel ore concentrate containing nickel 23.04%, copper 8.81%. Copper and nickel of recovery respectively for 73.12% and 69.26%.8,Thermal and electrochemical study on cyclic voltammetry curves of pentlandite shows that:with collectorless, there will be sulfur in the surface of pentlandite in a narrow range of potential in acidic conditions; When add xanthate in alkaline pulp, there is dixanthogen on pentlandite surface.