Plant scale studies to enhance the recoveries of Cu, Ni & Mo at by-product recovery plant of UCIL, Jaduguda

Abstract

Plant scale studies, at 41 tonnes per hour rate, were carried out at Uranium Corporation of India Ltd., Jaduguda with cresylic acid, sodium iso butyl xanthate and potassium amyl xanthate as collectors to evaluate their effectiveness in augmenting the recoveries of copper, nickel and molybdenum present in the uranium bearing ore. Samples collected from each of the three banks with these collectors revealed interesting results. Cresylic acid and light diesel oil combination, with which the plant is operating currently, was found to be selective since the grades of Cu, Ni and Mo obtained are 12.94% Cu, 9.73% Ni, and 4.88% Mo with 61%, 23% and 55.7% recoveries respectively in the first bank itself The flotation response of nickel minerals is considerably poor with the cresylic acid. Whereas by using xanthates especially the potassium amyl xanthate in combination with pine oil concentrate containing 5.94% Cu, 8.33% Ni and 2.44% Mo with 93%, 74.3% and 90.8% recoveries respectively could be obtained in the first bank itself. The studies reveal that the current dilution in the grade and low recoveries at the operating plant are probably due to the recirculation of the tailings from the plain cleaning silicate cleaning and also the scavenger concentrate. The plant scale flotation response of Cu, Ni and Mo with the three collectors at each bank was compared and discussed by comparing the same with the laboratory bulk flotation data.