Some aspects of the electrochemistry of the flotation of pyrrhotite

The iron sulfide mineral, pyrrhotite (Fe_(1–x)S), has long been known to be more difficult to recover by flotation from alkaline slurries than many other base metal sulfide minerals. This paper summarizes the results of an electrochemical study of the surface reactions that occur during the flotation of nickeliferous pyrrhotite in the recovery of nickel and the platinum group metals. Mixed potential measurements conducted with natural pyrrhotite electrodes in various stages of an operating flotation plant showed that the mineral potential is positive to the equilibrium potential of the xanthate/dixanthogen couple. Similar results were obtained during batch flotation experiments and in synthetic solutions in the laboratory. Cyclic voltammetric and potentiostatic current/time transient experiments were used to investigate the oxidation of pyrrhotite under various conditions. In addition, the reduction of oxygen, the reaction of copper ions and the oxidation of xanthate ions at the mineral surface were investigated. The formation of dixanthogen on pyrrhotite surfaces is thermodynamically favourable in plant flotation slurries. However the interaction with xanthate at pH values above 7 is inhibited by a surface species formed during the conditioning prior to xanthate addition. In acidic solutions copper ions react readily with pyrrhotite to form a species, possibly CuS that can be oxidized at potentials above 0.4 V. At pH 9 this species does not form and there is no electrochemical reaction between pyrrhotite and copper ions. The beneficial effects of copper ions to flotation performance appear to be related to an enhancement of the oxidation of xanthate.     

Bioleaching of pyrrhotite by Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans

The bioleaching of pyrrhotite was investigated using Sulfobacillus thermosulfidooxidans.The effects of pH,pulp concentration,inoculation amount,external addition of ferrous and ferric ions were examined.The pH is found to exert a profound effect on the leaching process for controlling the bacterial activity and precipitation of ferric ions mainly as jarosite.The results show that low pulp content increases the leaching rate of iron.The inoculation amount from 1×107 cell/mL to 1×108 cell/mL has positive effects on the leaching rate.The results also imply that addition of ferrous sulfate（1 g/L） is required for the bacteria to efficiently drive the extraction of iron,however,the leaching efficiency has no obvious enhancement when 2 g/L ferrous sulfate was added.Comparatively,addition of ferric sulfate（2 g/L） significantly inhibits the bioleaching process.At the end of bioleaching,jarosite and sulfur are observed on the surface of pyrrhotite residues by using XRD and SEM.With the passivation film formed by jarosite and sulfur,the continuous iron extraction is effectively blocked.     

Electrodeposition of dixanthogen（TETD） on pyrite surface

The electrochemical reaction of xanthate on the surface of pyrite was studied using cyclic voltammogrametry, chronopotentiometry and rotating-disc electrode measurements.Experimental results demonstrate that the first step in the reaction is electrochemical adsorption of xanthate ion,and then the adsorbed ion associates with a xanthate ion from the solution and forms a dixanthogen on the pyrite electrode surface.The diffusion coefficient of butyl xanthate on pyrite electrode surface can be determined to be about 1.09×10- 6cm2/s.Using the galvanostatic technique,the kinetic parameters of oxidation of the butyl xanthate ion on the pyrite surface are calculated as Ja=200μA/cm2 ,β=0.203 and J0=27.1μA/cm2.     

Flotation performances of polymorphic pyrrhotite

The floatability of different crystalline structures of pyrrhotite (monoclinic and hexagonal) was studied. It is shown that the floatability of monoclinic and hexagonal has obvious difference, and that the flotation recovery of monoclinic pyrrhotite is larger than that of hexagonal pyrrhotite using different collectors. When butyl dithiophosphate is used as the collector, the recovery is larger than that by sodium butyl xanthate and sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate. At the pH values ranging from 6 to 9, monoclinic pyrrhotite can be floated well, and the flotation recovery is higher than 90%. Monoclinic and hexagonal pyrrhotites are more easily activated by Cu²⁺ in acidic conditions than in alkaline conditions. But Cu²⁺ cannot activate hexagonal pyrrhotite using sodium diethyldithiocarbamate as the collector. By the measurement of contact angle, it is indicated that monoclinic and hexagonal pyrrhotites float well and are easily activated by Cu²⁺ when dithiophosphate is used as the collector. Using sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate as a collector, the relationship between potential and pH range for pyrrhotite flotation is established. At pH 5, the optimal potential range for flotation of monoclinic pyrrhotite is about 125–580 mV (vs SHE), with the maximum flotation occurring at about 350 mV (vs SHE); the optimal potential range for flotation of hexagonal pyrrhotite is 200–580 mV (vs SHE), with the maximum flotation occurring at about 300 mV (vs SHE).     

Electrochemical flotation of diethyldithiocarbamate-pyrrhotite system

Using sodium diethyldithiocarbamate as a collector the flotation behavior of pyrrhotite was investigated.The relationship between potential and pH range for pyrrhotite flotation was established. The results show that the flotation of pyrrhotite is dependent on pulp potential at certain pH values. Pyrrhotite has good floatability from pH 2 to pH 12, and poor flotability at pH＞12. Cyclic voltammetry and Fourier transform infrared spectrum analysis show that the major adsorption product of DDTC on pyrrhotite is tetraethylthiuram disulfide. The intensity of Fourier transform infrared signals of tetraethylthiuram disulfide adsorbed on pyrrhotite and the anode current of a pyrrhotite electrode and flotation response of pyrrhotite are correlated with pulp potentials.     

某铜铁矿选矿厂铁精矿降硫试验研究

通过对含硫铁精矿的试验研究分析结果表明,直接用该厂现有的工艺流程对铁精矿进行降硫是不可能达到所要求的质量标准的,其主要是受到磁黄铁矿的影响,本文详细分析了该铁精矿难降硫的原因,并且认为要想获得合格产品,选矿厂必须对现有工艺流程进行改造。     

含蛇纹石和磁黄铁矿的微细粒硫化铜镍矿选矿流程及抑制剂研究

以加拿大北部某蛇纹石和磁黄铁矿含量较高的微细粒硫化铜镍矿为研究对象,重点进行了铜镍分离抑制剂和磁黄铁矿抑制剂研究,铜镍分离采用石灰与BK536组合抑制镍矿物,镍精选采用BK521抑制磁黄铁矿,采用铜镍等可浮—镍浮选流程,获得铜精矿含镍为0.53%、铜回收率80.99%,镍精矿品位11.62%、镍回收率为69.69%的闭路试验指标。     

含磁黄铁矿的硫化镍矿开发利用新工艺研究

提出一种含磁黄铁矿的硫化镍矿开发利用新工艺,该工艺通过选矿的方法将含镍磁黄铁矿和镍黄铁矿分离,获得Ni品位为18.74%、Ni回收率为69.45%的高品位镍精矿和Ni品位为1.16%、Ni回收率为8.79%的低镍磁黄铁矿精矿,然后采用不同工艺处理这两种精矿产品。高品位镍精矿采用传统冶炼工艺,达到降低能耗、减少渣排放的目的;低镍磁黄铁矿精矿采用氧化焙烧—直接还原—磁选工艺生产镍铁产品,实现Ni、Fe资源的充分回收利用。     

冬瓜山铜矿深部矿石工艺矿物学研究

冬瓜山铜矿属于复杂难选矿石,具有铜磁黄铁矿、层状滑石、蛇纹石类型矿石占比高的特点,该性质对铜的选别过程具有不利影响,影响铜精矿品位和铜回收率。因此,开展该矿石的矿物学特性研究,对指导选矿生产具有重要的现实意义。研究的主要内容包括:矿石化学成分分析、矿物组成及含量、主要矿物的粒度及嵌布特征分析、不同磨矿细度下重要矿物的解离度分析,并对影响选别指标的工艺矿物学因素进行总结。工艺矿物学研究表明,冬瓜山深部矿石中铜矿物绝大部分为黄铜矿,墨铜矿占8.46%,且含有24.26%的滑石、蛇纹石易浮层状脉石矿物;黄铜矿、墨铜矿、磁黄铁矿、磁铁矿和黄铁矿的嵌布粒度不均匀,尤其是20μm以下部分占11.04%,在磨矿细度-0.074 mm粒级含量占75%时,仍有26.06%与脉石连生。以上性质都是铜选矿的重要影响因素,对指导选矿厂生产具有重要的意义。     

Influence of sodium thiosulphate on oxidation of sulphide minerals during selective flotation of copper-nickel ores

The studies of sulphur distribution in oxidation products of pyrrhotite and chalcopyrite being components of Cu-Ni ores showed that the elementary sulphur — sulphoxide ion ratio on the mineral surface and in the liquid phase of mineral suspensions changes in the presence of sodium thiosulphate. Sodium thiosulphate exhibits properties of a reducing agent and prevents formation of hydrophobic elementary sulphur on pyrrhotite surface due to oxygen absorption and oxidation of thiosulphate-ions to sulphates. The decrease in pyrrhotite floatability is observed, and more favorable conditions are provided for selective flotation of chalcopyrite on copper-nickel ore processing. __________ Translated from Fiziko-Tekhnicheskie Problemy Razrabotki Poleznykh Iskopaemykh, No. 4, pp. 89–94, July–August, 2006.