The effect of apolar flotation reagent and additional re-grinding of lead-zinc ore processing

Abstract

Due to the involvement in the processing of increasingly complex mineralogical composition, poor, finely disseminated ores, there is a need for the correct selection of flotation reagents, their preparation for flotation, a combination of various collectors, modifiers to reduce the loss of fine particles of sulfides with flotation tailings. The article examines the effect of an apolar flotation reagent based on oil and diesel fuel and additional re-grinding on finely disseminated lead-zinc ore processing. The new apolar reagent is a dispersed emulsion consisting of a mixture of oil and diesel fuel at a ratio of 1:1. The reagent is dominated by liquid hydrocarbons of normal and isostructural composition, and sulfur compounds in the form of mercaptans are present. After optimal dispersion for 7 minutes, the content of particles with a grain size less than 8.6 microns was 91.0%.It is shown that ore refinement is required to improve the disclosure of useful components from waste rock. The use of additional grinding and a new apolar reagent makes it possible to increase the extraction of zinc into the concentrate by 9.42%, while the extraction of lead increases by 12.36%.