Relationship between copper content of slag and matte in the SKS copper smelting process

In the newly developed oxygen-enriched bottom-blowing copper smelting process(also known as the SKS copper smelting process), Cu loss in slag is one of the most concerning issues. This paper presents our research results concerning the relationship between the Cu content of the matte and slag in the SKS process; the results are based on actual industrial production in the Dongying Fangyuan copper smelter. The results show that the matte grade strongly influences Cu losses in slag. The dissolved and entrained losses account for 10%–20% and 80%–90% of the total SKS industrial Cu losses in slag, respectively. With increasing matte grade, the dissolved and entrained Cu losses in the SKS slag both increase continuously. When the matte grade is greater than 68%, the content of Cu in the smelting slag increases much more dramatically. To obtain a high direct recovery of copper, the matte grade should be less than 75% in industrial SKS copper production.

Collecting performance of vegetable oils in scheelite flotation and differential analysis

The composition of a collector directly affects its collecting performance in mineral flotation.In this study,three vegetable oils were used as the collectors,the flotation performance of scheelite and the differential analysis were studied through flotation experiments,zeta potential,contact angle measurement and Fourier transform infrared spectrum(FTIR)analysis.Flotation results show that the recovery of scheelite increases in the order of oleic acid<rapeseed oil<rice bran oil<soybean oil,especially in the pH range of 5-8.The distinction in the scheelite recovery is due to the different compositions of these collectors.The addition of LA,LNA and PA(<5%)can increase the recovery of scheelite with OA,but the addition of SA deteriorates the scheelite flotation.Results of zeta potential,contact angle measurement and FTIR analysis indicate that the collector adsorption on scheelite surface is enhanced when using the three vegetable oils.For the raw ore with 0.086%WO3,a rough concentrate containing 1.423%WO3 with the recovery of 84.22%is obtained using soybean oil as the collector.

Mechanism of separating muscovite and quartz by flotation

Flotation experiments were performed to investigate the separation of muscovite and quartz in the presence of dodecylamine(DDA), tallow amine(TTA) and dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide(DTAC). The adsorption mechanisms of these three kinds of amines on muscovite and quartz were studied by FT-IR spectrum analysis, contact angle measurement and molecular dynamics(MD) simulation. The results reveal that the separation of muscovite from quartz is feasible at strong acid pulp condition using amine collectors. TTA and DTAC show poorer collecting ability for flotation of the two minerals compared with DDA. Physical adsorption is found to be the main adsorption module of amine collectors on muscovite and quartz by FT-IR analysis. MD simulation results show a strong physical adsorption ability of DDA+ cation on muscovite and quartz(muscovite(001):-117.31 kJ/mol, quartz(100):-89.43 kJ/mol), while neutral DDA molecular can hardly absorb onto the surface of these two minerals. These findings provide a novel explanation for the flotation mechanism from the perspective of MD simulation.

Effect of temperature on floatability and adsorption behavior of fine wolframite with sodium oleate

The influence of pulp temperature on the floatability and adsorption behavior of fine wolframite with sodium oleate was investigated by microflotation experiments, electric conductivity tests, adsorption measurements, and FT-IR analysis. Microflotation results show that fine wolframite with sodium oleate exhibits a good floatability at pH 8–9. Electric conductivity tests indicate that the high temperature enhances the ionization degree and electric mobility of oleate species, then the flotation recovery of fine wolframite and the adsorption amount of sodium oleate are observed to increase with the rise in pulp temperature. The results of adsorption experiments are found to meet Freundlich isotherms successfully, and the isosteric enthalpy （ΔH^Θ） is in conformity with the chemical bonding. The changes in FT-IR analysis provide sufficient evidence that sodium oleate interacts with the metal cations of wolframite surface, and the increase in pulp temperature clearly promotes the chemisorption intensity. These findings will be beneficial to strengthen the flotation behavior of fine wolframite.

Flotation behavior and adsorption mechanism of fine wolframite with octyl hydroxamic acid

Flotation behavior and adsorption mechanism of octyl hydroxamic acid(OHA)on wolframite were investigated through flotation experiments,adsorption tests,zeta-potential measurements,infrared spectroscopy and solution chemistry calculations.Results of flotation and adsorption experiments show that the maximum values of flotation recovery and adsorption capacity occur around p H 9.In term of the solution chemistry calculations,the concentration of metal hydroxamate is greater than that of metal tungstate and metal hydroxyl,and metal hydroxamate compounds are identified to be the main species on wolframite surface at p H region of 8-10,contributing to the increase of OHA adsorption and flotation performance.Results of zeta-potential and IR spectra demonstrate that OHA adsorbs onto wolframite surface by chemisorptions.Hydroxamate ions can bond with Mn_2+/Fe_2+cations of wolframite surface,forming metal hydroxamate compounds,which is a key factor in inducing the hydrophobicity of wolframite under the conditions of maximum flotation.

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.

Effect of 2-aminothiophenol on the separation of jamesonite and marmatite

The minerals jamesonite and marmatite have similar surface properties.Separating them using a flotation method is inefficient.For separation of lead and zinc the lead mineral is generally floated preferentially to the zinc mineral,which appears in the sinks.In this study a new of collector,2-aminothiophenol,is introduced that can float a zinc mineral,as a product entrapped in foam,preferentially.Single mineral flotation tests revealed that 2-aminothiophenol has good selectivity for flotation of marmatite. An artificial mixture of minerals used in a flotation test showed that 2-aminothiophenol can effectively separate marmatite from jamesonite.A product assaying at 45.06%Zn and 4.06%Pb was produced.FTIR spectra were employed to probe the adsorption mechanism of 2-aminothiophenol onto marmatite.The results indicate that adsorption of 2-aminothiophenol onto jamesonite and marmatite were,respectively,physical adsorption and chemical adsorption.This agrees with the flotation results.

Co-intensification of gold leaching with heavy metals and hydrogen peroxide

Co-intensification was researched to accelerate gold leaching with regards to its electrochemical nature by using anodic intensifiers of heavy metal ions (Pb2+,Bi3+,Tl+,Hg2+ and Ag+) on the basis of hydrogen peroxide assistant leaching on three different types of materials which were classified as a refractory sulphide gold concentrate,an easily leachable sulphide gold concentrate,and a low grade oxide gold ore according to their leaching characteristics.The results showed that,favorable co-intensification effects on the three materials were obtained and leaching time of gold was effectively shortened to no longer than 12 h from 16 to 24 h for hydrogen peroxide assistant leaching.For the five tested heavy metal ions,Bi3+and Tl+ presented co-intensifying effect on all the three materials,and Hg2+ caused co-intensifying effect on both refractory and easily leachable sulphide gold concentrates,and Pb2+ and Ag+ only had co-intensifying effect on the easily leachable sulphide gold concentrate.

Isolation,characterization and extraction of mer gene of Hg^(2+) resisting strain D_2

Mercury-resistant strain D2 was isolated from mercury-contaminated soil and investigations on its 16S rDNA sequence,growth,minimal inhibitory concentrations(MICs) of metals,antibiotic susceptibility and mer gene were conducted.The strain D2 can grow in the medium containing 60 mg/L mercury ion.It presents more than 99% identity of 16S rRNA gene with Pseudomonas aeruginosa,and exhibits high MIC values for heavy metals and a large spectrum antibiotics resistance.The mer RT gene sequence was amplified from chromosome.Strain D2 is identified as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and the resistance to mercuric ion is related to chromosome.

Synchronous enrichment of phosphorus and iron from a high-phosphorus oolitic hematite ore to prepare Fe-P alloy by direct reduction-magnetic separation process

In this study,direct reduction-magnetic separation process was applied to enrich phosphorus and iron to prepare Fe-P crude alloy from a high phosphorus oolitic hematite ore(HPOH).The results show that at lower temperatures and with absence of any of additives,Fe cannot be effectively recovered because of the oolitic structure is not destroyed.In contrast,under the conditions of 15%Na_(2)SO_(4)and reducing at 1050℃ for 120 min with a total C/Fe ratio(molar ratio)of 8.5,a final Fe-P alloy containing 92.40%Fe and 1.09%P can be obtained at an overall iron recovery of 95.43%and phosphorus recovery of 68.98%,respectively.This metallized Fe-P powder can be applied as the burden for production of weathering resistant steels.The developed process can provide an alternative for effective and green utilization of high phosphorus iron ore.

Stepwise dissolution of chalcopyrite bioleaching by thermophile A.manzaensis and mesophile L. ferriphilum

Chalcopyrite dissolution was evaluated by bioleaching and electrochemical experiments with thermophile A. manzaensis（Acidianus manzaensis） and mesophile L. ferriphilum（Leptospirillum ferriphium） cultures at 65 ℃ and 40 ℃, respectively. It was investigated that the bioleaching of chalcopyrite was stepwise. It was reduced to Cu2 S at a lower redox potential locating in the whole bioleaching process by A. manzaensis at high temperature while only at initial days of bioleaching by L. ferriphilum at a relative low temperature. No reduced product was detected when the redox potential was beyond a high level（e.g., 550 m V（vs SCE）） bioleached by L. ferriphilum. Chalcopyrite bioleaching efficiency was substantially improved bioleached by A. manaensis compared to that by L. ferriphilum, which was mainly attributed to the reduction reaction occurring during bioleaching. The reductive intermediate Cu2 S was more amenable to oxidation than chalcopyrite, causing enhanced copper extraction.

Preparation and characterization of Fe/SiO_2 core/shell nanocomposites

In a simple ethanol-water system,the magnetic α-Fe nanoparticles(with an average diameter of 10-40 nm)were prepared by reduction of Fe2 +using potassium borohydride in the presence of surfactant.Then the shell was formed by hydrolysis-condensation polymerization of tetraethylorthosilicate(TEOS)on the surface of the Fe particles.The samples were characterized by XRD,TEM,SAED,TG-DSC and VSM.The results indicate that a thin film of silica is coated on the surface of Fe particles through a Si-O-Fe bond.The coated shell of silica can effectively protect the Fe cores from being oxidized.

Removal and utilization of calcite existed in scheelite by preparation of calcium sulfate whiskers

In order to eliminate the effect of calcite associated with scheelite on the scheelite flotation, hydrochloric acid was used to dissolve the calcite, and the soaking solution was used to prepare CaSO_4 whiskers by hydrothermal reaction with sulfuric acid at ambient pressure. First, the condition experiments of preparing CaSO_4 whiskers by using CaCl_2 and H_2SO_4 were carried out to optimize reaction parameters of the crystallization process. The optimal conditions were: at 102 ℃ reaction temperature, 0,5 mol/L reactant concentration and 60 min reaction time. Then based on the condition experiments and considering keeping acid concentration stable for achieving HCl recycling, Calcium sulfate whiskers with the average diameter of 1.41 μm and the average aspect ratio of 109 were prepared by the soaking solution after evaporating to half of its volume and 1.0 mol/L H_2SO_4 at 102 ℃ for 60 min: After ion exchange processing,the filtrate could be used as HCl in the process of HCl dissolution.

Formation of passivation film during pyrrhotite bioleached by pure L. ferriphilum and mixed culture of L. ferriphilum and A. caldus

Bioleaching and electrochemical experiments were conducted to evaluate pyrrhotite dissolution in the presence of pure L.ferriphilum and mixed culture of L. ferriphilum and A. caldus. The results indicate that the pyrrhotite oxidation behavior is the preferential dissolution of iron accompanied with the massive formation of sulfur in the presence of L. ferriphilum, which significantly hinders the leaching efficiency. Comparatively, the leaching rate of pyrrhotite distinctly increases by 68% in the mixed culture of L. ferriphilum and A. caldus at the 3rd day. But, the accumulated ferric ions and high p H value produced by bioleaching process can give rise to the rapid formation of jarosite, which is the primary passivation film blocking continuous iron extraction during bioleaching by the mixed culture. The addition of A. caldus during leaching by L. ferriphilum can accelerate the oxidation rate of pyrrhotite, but not change the electrochemical oxidation mechanisms of pyrrhotite. XRD and SEM/EDS analyses as well as electrochemical study confirm the above conclusions.

Observation of fine particle aggregating behavior induced by high intensity conditioning using high speed CCD

The aggregating behavior between bubbles and particles induced by high intensity conditioning (HIC) was studied using high speed CCD technique. Bubble size measurement was conducted, and the attachment behavior between bubbles and particles in HIC cell and flotation cell were observed. The results show that in HIC cell, high intensity conditioning creates an advantage environment for the formation of small size bubble due to hydrodynamic cavitations, and these fine bubbles have high probability of bubble-particle collision, which will enhance fine particle flotation. The bubble-particle attachment experiments indicate that in high intensity conditioning cell, a lot of fine bubbles are produced in situ on the surface of fine particles, and most of fine particles are aggregated under the bridging action of fine bubbles. The observation of bubble-particle interaction in flotation cell illustrates that aggregates created by HIC can be loaded more easily by big air bubble in flotation cell than those created by normal conditioning.

Selective depression of copper-activated sphalerite by polyaspartic acid during chalcopyrite flotation

Environmentally friendly flotation reagent,polyaspartic acid(PAPA),was tested as a potential selective depressant in the flotation separation of chalcopyrite and Cu-activated sphalerite.The depression mechanism of PAPA was revealed by contact angle measurements,Zeta potential measurements,Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR)analysis and inductively coupled plasma(ICP)measurement.The micro-flotation tests with single minerals showed that PAPA selectively depressed Cu-activated sphalerite,while chalcopyrite remained floatable.Moreover,a concentrate containing 31.40%Cu with a recovery of 92.43%was obtained in flotation tests of artificially mixed minerals.Results of contact angle measurements,Zeta potential measurements and FT-IR spectrum revealed that PAPA exerted a much stronger adsorption on Cu-activated sphalerite surface than on chalcopyrite surface,preventing the further adsorption of sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate(DDTC)on its surface.ICP measurements indicated that PAPA had an excellent complexing ability with Cu^(2+)in flotation pulp,weakening the activation of Cu species on sphalerite surface and producing selective depression.

Bio-leaching effects of Leptospirillum ferriphilum on the surface chemical properties of pyrite

Leptospirillum ferriphilum cultured using different energy sources(either soluble ferrous ion or pyrite) changed the surface properties of pyrite.Cell adsorption,zeta-potential,hydrophobicty,FT-IR spectra and surface morphology were investigated.Adhesion of bacterial cells to the pyrite surface is a fast process.Furthermore,the adsorption of cells grown in pyrite is greater than of cells grown in soluble ferrous ion.The Iso-Electric Point(IEP) of pyrite treated with L.ferriphilum approaches that of the cells themselves.The contact angle of the pyrite surface was observed to decrease due to the surface formation of some hydrophilic substances during bio-leaching.Changes in pyrite surface properties after bacterial treatment support the idea that ferric ion plays an important role and that indirect bio-oxidation is the principal mechanism of pyrite bio-leaching.

Isolation of Leptospirillum ferriphilum by single-layered solid medium

According to physiological and biochemical characteristics of Leptospirillum ferriphilum, a strain of object bacteria was isolated successfully. Bacteria were enriched by selective liquid medium and plated on designed single-layered agar solid medium. Colony was cultured and bacteria were collected. The morphologies of the object bacteria were observed using crystal violet staining, scanning electron microscope（SEM） and transmission electron microscope （TEM）. The result of 16S rDNA identification shows that this bacterium belongs to Leptospirillum ferriphilum and it is named as Leptospirillum ferriphilum strain D1. These results indicate that this new single-layered agar solid medium is efficient and physiological-biochemical characteristics show that the optimum simple for isolation of Leptospirillum ferriphilum. Additionally, initial pH value and its growth temperature are 1.68 and 40℃.

Preparation of α-calcium sulfate hemihydrate whiskers with high aspect ratios in presence of a minor amount of CuCl_2·2H_2O

In order to produceα-calcium sulfate hemihydrate(α-CaSO4·0.5H2O)whiskers with high aspect ratios,a minor amount of CuCl2·2H2O was used as the modifying agent in the process of hydrothermal treatment of calcium sulfate dihydrate(CaSO4·2H2O)precursor.The presence of 2.60×10–3 mol/L CuCl2·2H2O resulted in the increase of the aspect ratios ofα-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers from 81 to 253.The preferential adsorption of Cu2+on the negative{110}and{100}facets ofα-CaSO4·0.5H2O crystal structures was confirmed by EDS and XPS.And ATR-FTIR demonstrated the ligand adsorption of Cu2+on the surface ofα-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers.The experimental results reveal that the whiskers with high aspect ratios are attributed to the adsorption of Cu2+,which promotes the 1-D growth ofα-CaSO4·0.5H2O whiskers along the c axis.

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.