Hardwood lignosulfonates for seperating gangue materials from metallic sulphide ores

摘要

Disclosed are compositions and methods for separating gangue material from metallic sulfide ores. The compositions typically include a lignosolfonate and do not include a cyanide salt. Suitable lignosulfonates may include lignosulfonates, for example hardwood lignosulfonate having a weight average molecular weight of about 3 kDa to about 12 kDa and having a relatively low sulfur content and a relatively low sulfonate content.