PROCESS THAT IMPROVES RECOVERY, DEGREE AND KINETIC OF COPPER, REDUCING THE CONSUMPTION OF METALLIC MILLING MEANS AND OF THE PH MODIFIER REACTIVE DURING COPPER CONCENTRATION BY FLOATATION.

摘要

Herein is provided a process to improve recovery, degree, kinetic and at the same time the consumption reduction of milling metallic means in copper floatation using ammonium bisulphite (ABS). The process comprises the addition of (ABS) to the primary milling feeding water giving enough conditioning time (achievable in a cycle of 6 to 8 minutes in a standard milling circuit, with no conditioning tanks or other additional equipment) for reducing or eliminating the oxygen dissolved in the pulp. Another addition points include the pulp of the cyclones discharge of the milling mill and the cleansing flotation section. The quantity of added (ABS) should be enough to control (reduce) the pyrite floatability as well as for minimizing the oxygen dissolved in the pulp in all the circuit. The process is applicable to a large range of copper sulphurous minerals and also to mixtures of sulphurous and non-sulphurous minerals.