Enhancing the flotability of Malanjkhand (India) mixed sulphide oxide copper ore with LIX-65NS

Abstract

Background/aims: in the treatment of the Malanjkhand copper ore, the oxide component remains unaffected and either goes to tailings or is separately stockpiled for future treatment by hydrometallurgical route. To overcome these drawbacks, the application of the reagent LIX 65 NS as collector has been undertaken in the laboratory to enhance the rougher flotation recovery with satisfactory concentrate grade. Methods: Batch flotation experiments were carried out with feed charge of 200 g in a standard Denver D-12 sub-aeration machine using a 1 litre cell. At the end of the flotation test, both concentrate and tailing were dried, weighed and analysed for copper as per standard procedure. The kinetic studies were carried out by collecting the concentrate at the cumulative time interval of 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min. Results and conclusions: The effect of reagent concentration, pH, conditioning time, frother etc., were studied. The results of the batch flotation experiments with LIX 65NS had demonstrated better results than with sodium isopropyl xanthate being practiced in the plant. It was possible to obtain a copper grade of 17.7% with more than 92% recovery in a single stage flotation from the mixed ore containing around 0.5% copper. The flotation performance using collectors LIX 65NS and xanthate were studied both with respect to kinetics and selectivity.