ENHANCED EFFECTIVENESS OF SULPHOXY COMPOUNDS IN FLOTATION CIRCUITS

摘要

A method of increasing both flotation selectivity and effectiveness of a sulfoxy radical-containing reagent added to a mineral separation circuit. The method inv olves adding a non-oxidizing gas to the mineral separation circuit prior to and/or sim ultaneously with the addition of the sulfoxy radical-containing reagent in a quantity suffic ient to achieve a chemical environment conducive to flotation separation of minerals. Th e process is suitable for use with a broad range of slurries and flotation concent rates having a mixture of valuable materials including sulfidic copper minerals, sulfidic and non-sulfidic copper minerals, valuable lead and/or zinc and/or nickel minerals, sulfidic iron minerals (particularly pyrite) and non-sulfidic gangue material. It is particula rly suitable for poly-metallic ores containing economic values of copper and/or lead and/or z inc and/or nickel which is frequently in association with iron sulfide.