Review on development of low-grade scheelite recovery from molybdenum tailings in Luanchuan, China: A case study of Luoyang Yulu Mining Company

Luanchuan area is one of the regions with the largest scale of scheelite beneficiation and the largest output of scheelite concentrate in the world. After years of innovation and progress, the beneficiation technology of low-grade scheelite associated with molybdenum tailings in Luanchuan area is becoming more and more perfect. In this study, the development process of low-grade scheelite recycling technology in Luanchuan area was reviewed, including raw ore properties, beneficiation process, flotation equipment and flotation reagents. Meanwhile, taking Luoyang Yulu Mining Co., Ltd. as an example, the effects of various technical transformations such as the optimization of the beneficiation process, the column-machine combined process, and the high-efficiency flotation reagents were elucidated in detail. However, the recycling technology of low-grade scheelite of Luanchuan area is still possible to be improved. As a result, coupled with the latest research progress, the development direction of low-grade scheelite beneficiation in Luanchuan area was also prospected. It is of great significance to further improve the recovery efficiency of low-grade scheelite resources in Luanchuan area and this can provide technical reference for other scheelite plants.

Review of tungsten resource reserves,tungsten concentrate production and tungsten beneficiation technology in China

Tungsten is a strategic metal that is widely used in various fields such as electron communication,aeronautics and astronautics,materials and chemical engineering,due to its special properties.China has the largest reserves of tungsten resources and the largest output of tungsten concentrate in the world,and plays a decisive role in the world tungsten market.In this work,firstly,the reserves and distribution characteristics of tungsten resources in China were summarized,and the production situation of tungsten concentrate in China was reviewed.Based on the gross domestic product per capita(GDP/capita),five different annual GDP growth rates were used to estimate China’s tungsten concentrate production in the future.The estimation results suggested that if China’s economy continues to grow at the current rate,the accumulative production of tungsten concentrate will exceed current reserves by approximately 2032.Then,from the aspects of process flow,beneficiation equipment and flotation reagents,the beneficiation technology development of different types of tungsten ore in China was also reviewed,including wolframite,scheelite and tungsten-bearing slime.Finally,taking several representative tungsten mines in China as examples,the classic beneficiation technology of different types of tungsten ores was elucidated in detail.Meanwhile,the development direction of tungsten beneficiation technology in the future was put forward,which was of great significance to maintain the superiority of tungsten resources in China.

Selective depression mechanism of combination of lime and sodium humate on arsenopyrite in flotation separation of Zn-As bulk concentrate

Lime(CaO)and sodium humate(NaHA)were used as the combined depressant for arsenopyrite pre-treated by CuSO_(4) and butyl xanthate.Micro-flotation tests show that the combined depressant CaO and NaHA achieved the selective depression of arsenopyrite.Closed-circuit lab-scale test results indicate that the synergistic effect of CaO+NaHA achieved a satisfactory flotation separation of sphalerite and arsenopyrite,for which the Zn grade and recovery of Zn concentrate were 51.21%and 92.21%,respectively.Contact angle measurements,adsorption amount measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicate that the dissolved calcium species(mainly as Ca(2+))were adsorbed on the mineral surfaces,thereby promoting NaHA adsorption.Moreover,the surface of the arsenopyrite absorbed more amount of calcium species and NaHA than that of the sphalerite,thereby accounting for the strong hydrophilic surface of arsenopyrite.The adsorption of NaHA on arsenopyrite was mainly chemical adsorption through its carboxyl groups and Ca atoms,whereas that on sphalerite surface was relatively weak.

Utilization of wastewater from zeolite production in synthesis of flotation reagents

The application of waste alkali liquids as a substitute of sodium hydroxide for the saponification to improve the collection performance of fatty acids was investigated by saponification reaction test and flotation test.The results of the saponification reaction test indicated that the optimal conditions for the saponification were stirring rate of 55 r/min,initial temperature of 40℃ and stirring time of 45 min.Meanwhile,the laboratory scale and industrial scale flotation experiments showed that the fatty acid salt synthesized by wastewater achieved an index comparable to fatty acid sodium synthesized by sodium hydroxide.As a consequence,it was feasible to replace sodium hydroxide with the wastewater from zeolite production for fatty acid saponification.The cross-border utilization of waste alkali liquids not only reduced environmental pollution,but also produced excellent economic benefits.

Cu-state evolution during leaching of bornite at 50 ℃

The bioleaching of bornite with mixed moderately thermophilic culture at 50 °C was investigated. The intermediary species formed during the leaching of bornite were characterized by XRD and XPS. In addition, the evolution of Cu-state during leaching of bornite was further studied by applying φh–p H diagram and cyclic voltammetry. The results showed that the bornite was more likely to be leached at high redox potential. Furthermore, the intermediary sulfides, such as isocubanite, covellite, chalcopyrite, disulfide, and polysulfide, were formed in the course of bornite dissolution. The Cu 2 p photoelectron spectrum revealed that the valence of copper in bornite and intermediary sulfide formed in the dissolution of bornite is ＋1. The bornite and chalcopyrite can be converted into each other, and both can be further converted to covellite and/or chalcocite.

Recovery of gallium from zinc concentrate by pressure oxygen leaching

Zinc concentrate with high gallium content is one of the main resources of gallium.The gallium presents in the form of isomorphism in tetrahedron coordination with sulfur in sphalerite.The research was to investigate the amenability of zinc concentrate with high gallium to pressure oxygen leaching.The particle size,sulfuric acid concentration,oxygen partial pressure,additive amount,and time of reaction were studied.The extraction yields of gallium and zinc are 86%and 98%,respectively.The optimal condition is 100 g of zinc concentrate with particle size smaller than 38 lm,sulfuric acid concentration150 g L-1,leaching temperature 150℃,leaching time120 min,oxygen partial pressure 0.7 MPa,additive amount of 0.2 wt%.

Effect of As(Ⅲ)on kinetics of Fe^(2+)bio-oxidation

Fe^(2+) bio-oxidation influenced by toxic metal ions released from the dissolution of arsenic-bearing gold ores was investigated.Fe^(2+) bio-oxidation by moderately thermophilic microorganisms was studied under different initial concentrations of Fe^(2+) and As(Ⅲ),and Monod equation was used to fit the Fe^(2+) bio-oxidation under different conditions.Results showed that the Fe^(2+) bio-oxidation rate increased as the initial Fe^(2+) concentration increased until it reached 12 g/L.As(Ⅲ)severely inhibited Fe^(2+) bio-oxidation.When the As(Ⅲ)concentration was 8 g/L,9 g/L Fe^(2+) was more than 200 h.The Monod equation fitted the Fe^(2+) bio-oxidation well.In the absence of As(Ⅲ),the maximum specific growth rate of the culture and the substrate affinity constant were 0.142 h^(−1) and 0.053 g/L,respectively.As(Ⅲ)inhibited Fe^(2+) bio-oxidation via competitive inhibition,and the inhibition constant was 0.0035 g/L.