DEVELOPMENT OF COMPOSITE CHEMICAL FLOTATION REAGENTS AND THEIR APPLICATION IN THE PROCESS OF FLOTATION OF COPPER-MOLYBDENUM ORES

ABSTRACT

The article discusses a study on the creation of new effective composite chemical flotation reagents - blowing agents and the study of their physicochemical and flotation properties. The foaming ability and foam stability of the developed flotation reagents are shown to be used in the process of flotation of non-ferrous and noble metal ores based on local raw materials and production wastes. The results of laboratory-production tests of the developed flotation reagents-blowing agents of the KСF-VS type at the processing plant of the central laboratory of new technologies in the conditions of JSC "Almalyk MMC" are presented.

АННОТАЦИЯ

В статье рассматриваются исследования по созданию новых эффективных композиционных химических флотационных реагентов - пенообразователей и изучение их физико-химических и флотационных свойств. Показано, что пенообразующая способность и устойчивость разработанных флотационных реагентов может быть использована в процессе флотации руд цветных и благородных металлов на основе местного сырья и отходов производства. Приведены результаты лабораторно-производственных испытаний разработанных флотореагентов-вспенивателей типа КХФ-ВС на обогатительной фабрике центральной лаборатории новых технологий в условиях АО «Алмалыкский ГМК».

Keywords: composition, ore, flotation, foam, flotation reagent, foaming agent, stability.

Ключевые слова: композиция, руда, флотация, пена, флотореагент, вспениватель, устойчивость.

INTRODUCTION

Today, on a global scale, one of the main, most important problems of the mining and metallurgical complex in the metallurgical industry is a significant reduction in the reserves of non-ferrous metal ores in terms of the amount of basic minerals, which is one of the important tasks of processing poor, refractory, refractory ores. In this aspect, the stages of enrichment of mineral raw materials, new methods and schemes of enrichment, the development of new highly efficient flotation reagents for their complex separation are of great importance [1-4].

In the world, flotation reagents are used in the extraction of non-ferrous and precious metals from ores. However, to date, special attention is paid to the creation of import-substituting composite chemical flotation reagents-foaming agents based on local raw materials and industrial waste. In this regard, the problem of developing an effective composition of inexpensive chemical flotation reagents-blowing agents instead of imported ones and their use in the flotation process in the metallurgical industry is one of the urgent problems. Flotation at the present time and in the future remains the most widespread process of beneficiation of the vast majority of ores. The global volume of ore beneficiated by flotation is estimated at one billion tons per year [2]. The main role in the flotation process is played by flotation reagents. The success of flotation and progress in its development depend on their competent and economically feasible application [3-5]. Flotation reagents are chemical compounds that promote selective adhesion of air bubbles to mineral particles and the implementation of flotation of certain components [6-8].

A characteristic feature of the reagents used in the flotation process is the selectivity of their action in relation to different phase boundaries and, in particular, to different mineral surfaces, depending on the conditions created in the aqueous medium of the pulp. Such selectivity is always associated with the pronounced specificity of the adsorption, adsorption-chemical, electrochemical action or chemical reaction in the volume of the liquid phase of the pulp. These processes cause a change in the conditions for wetting the surface of grains of individual minerals and, consequently, their adhesion to bubbles [9-10].

In [11], the development of a method for obtaining effective composite foaming agents from alcohol production wastes, the determination of their physicochemical and flotation characteristics is presented. The optimal parameters for the synthesis of composite reagents on a pilot plant (R-620 Selecta, Spain) have been found, and the production of effective composite collectors can be achieved by regulating hydrocarbon radicals of normal and iso-structure during their synthesis.

In [12], a specific property of nanobubbles is considered - spontaneous spreading over a solid hydrophobic substrate-particle adhered to them, which is caused by a high capillary gas pressure in nanobubbles. The effect of the surface activity of flotation reagents on the shape of the curves of the spreading of bubbles is shown.

In [13], the effect of the properties of foams and foam films obtained from aqueous solutions containing an ionic surfactant sodium dodecyl sulfate, gelatin, and an organic liquid on the efficiency of the flotation process is presented. The preparation of the most stable foams from sodium dodecyl sulfate and gelatin in the presence of an organic phase (benzene and diesel fuel) at pH =5–7 is shown.

In the mining and metallurgical industry, the efficiency of the concentration factories largely depends on the quality of the used flotation reagents [14]. The main flotation agents are foaming agents T-66, T-80, T-92 (derivatives of 1,3-dioxane) and MIBK, as well as organophosphorus and sulfhydryl collectors (foaming agents, potassium and sodium salts of primary alcohol xanthates) [15-16]. However, they are all produced abroad, which increases the state's import dependence. Today, the nature, structure and composition of organic-mineral ingredients in the flotation of copper-molybdenum ores, as well as the dependence of non-ferrous and noble metal ores on the technological factors of the flotation process using local raw materials and production wastes, and special attention is paid to the creation of import-substituting composite chemical flotation reagents. Therefore, the development of new composite chemical blowing agents based on local raw materials and industrial waste is an urgent and timely task.

In the Republic of Uzbekistan non-ferrous metallurgy is concentrated mainly on the Angren-Almalyk mining and industrial area and the state-owned enterprise JSC Almalyk MMC, JSC Navoi MMC, where flotation reagents are used to extract non-ferrous and noble metals, especially copper concentrates, and certain results have been achieved.

Based on the analysis of existing works, it should be noted that the issues of creating import-substituting composite chemical flotation reagents-foaming agents based on local raw materials and production wastes require a fundamental solution.

The aim of the study is to develop import-substituting composite chemical flotation reagents and their use in the process of flotation of non-ferrous and noble metal ores in the metallurgical industry.

The objectives of the study are to study the physicochemical properties and flotation ability of the created composite chemical flotation reagents-foaming agents for their use in the process of flotation of non-ferrous and noble metal ores in the conditions of JSC "Almalyk MMC".

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The main ingredients of the obtained composite chemical flotation reagent-foaming agent based on local raw materials and industrial waste for use in the process of flotation of non-ferrous and noble metal ores are: modified gossypol resin, which is a waste of oil and fat production, injection-adhesive fraction - (IAF), which is a waste of alcohol production, glycerin obtained on the basis of wastes of fat and oil production, condensed sulfite-alcohol stillage (CSAS), which is a waste of alcohol production, surface active substance (surfactant) and water. The work used IR-spectroscopic, X-ray phase analysis and standard methods. The foaming ability and foam stability of solutions of flotation reagents-foaming agents were determined according to State Standard 23409.26-78.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

To solve this problem, we carried out laboratory studies based on local raw materials and industrial waste. It should be noted that the composition of the composite chemical flotation reagent-foaming agent depends on the physicochemical properties of organic-mineral ingredients and the nature, type, composition and content of floated ores. The developed composite flotation-foaming agents represent a clear liquid from yellow to light brown in color. The composition of the obtained composite flotation-blowing agents varies depending on the ratio of the added organic-mineral ingredients and solvents.

The data obtained indicate that the considered ratio of organic-mineral ingredients capable of foaming can be used to develop a flotation reagent - a foaming agent.

Table 1 shows the physicochemical properties of the obtained composite chemical flotation reagent - foaming agent.

Table 1.

Physical-chemical properties of a composite chemical flotation agent - blowing agent

As can be seen from Table 1, the compositional chemical flotation agent - foaming agent in its physicochemical properties meets the requirements set for the creation of foaming agents used in flotation concentration of ores and is not inferior to the traditional expensive imported foaming agents T-92.

Therefore, the foaming agent developed by us was transferred to Almalyk MMC for conducting pilot tests in the process of flotation concentration of non-ferrous and precious metal ores in the conditions of Almalyk MMC. Therefore, the foaming agent developed by us was transferred to Almalyk MMC for conducting pilot tests in the process of flotation concentration of non-ferrous and precious metal ores in the conditions of Almalyk MMC.

It should be noted that the composition of the composite chemical flotation reagent-blowing agent depends on the nature, type, composition, sorption and physicochemical properties of organic-mineral ingredients and on the content of floated ores. Therefore, in order to develop effective compositions of composite chemical flotation reagents-foaming agents, the foaming ability, stability and physicochemical properties of the developed foaming agents on water and water-alcohol base were studied.

A beaker was poured with 100 cm3 of an aqueous solution of a foaming agent and installed on the device. Solution temperature (18 ± 2) ° С. The solution was stirred for 30 seconds. After the lapse of time, the volume of the formed foam was measured in graduations on the glass. After 30 min, the foam volume measurement was repeated. Foaming capacity (F) in percent was calculated by the formula:

The arithmetic mean of the results of the last three determinations was taken as the final test result. Foam with a height of 60 cm³ to 100 cm³ is formed within 15 minutes, while no intense destruction was observed in the volume. Figure 3 shows the results of studies on the foaming ability and foam stability of synthesized water-based blowing agents.

Figure 3 shows that the developed samples form foam of various sizes. Samples No. 1 and No. 3 gave better results in terms of foaming ability and kinetics of foam stability than samples No. 2 and No. 4.

Figure 3. Kinetics of foam stability of solutions of water-based flotation reagents-blowing agents. 1-composition, 2-composition, 3-composition, 4-composition, 5- Flotation agent T-92

During the flotation process, after the addition of the foaming agent, a coalescence process occurs, which slows down sharply, since as a result of adsorption at the liquid-gas interface, the foaming agent forms an oriented layer of molecules, the polar ends of which are hydrated by water dipoles. This hydrated layer increases the mechanical resistance of the casings and prevents them from merging when they collide with each other, which allows you to keep smaller bubbles in the pulp. Air bubbles, enclosed in a rather rigid hydration shell, close to spherical, deform little during ascent and therefore the rate of their ascent is much less than the rate of ascent of bubbles of the same size in pure water. A decrease in the rate of rise of air bubbles under the action of foaming agents increases the air content in the pulp and, thereby, increases the number of their collisions with mineral particles. The ability of a mineral grain to gain a foothold on an air bubble depends both on the physicochemical characteristics of its surface and on the hydrodynamic regime. Figure 4 shows the results of studies on the foaming ability and foam stability of synthesized water-alcohol-based blowing agents.

Figure 4. Kinetics of foam stability of solutions of flotation reagents-foaming agents on a water-alcohol basis. 1- 5 composition, 2- 6 composition, 3- 7 composition, 4- 8 composition, 5- Flotareagent T-92

From the experimental data it can be seen that the obtained composite flotation-foaming agents based on alcohol waste form more foam with a size of 0.6-5 mm and they are more stable than those based on water.

The results obtained show that the main purpose of the flotation reagents-foaming agents is to increase the dispersion and stabilization of air bubbles in the pulp and to increase the stability of the foam with saturated particles of the floating mineral. The study found that the size of the bubbles and the stability of the foam should be within 0.6-1.2 mm and 15 minutes, respectively.

The developed composite chemical flotation reagents-foaming agents were investigated for their serviceability, for the recovery of non-ferrous metals by the flotation method of beneficiation in laboratory-production conditions at JSC Almalyk MMC as an alternative to the reagent T-92.

For laboratory-production studies, a sample of the current copper-molybdenum ore from the Kalmakyr deposit was used. The chemical composition and phase analysis of this sample are shown in tables 2, 3.

Table 2.

Chemical composition of the ore

As can be seen from the table, the ore contains small amounts of non-ferrous and noble metals that need to be concentrated.

Table 3.

 Phase composition of ore

Experiments on all samples were carried out in an open cycle to obtain a rough concentrate. The results of the experiments performed using the experimental samples of blowing agents were compared with the standard experiment delivered with the T-92, which are shown in table 4.

According to the results of the experiments, it was shown that the developed flotation-blowing agent of the KСF-ВS type showed the extraction of copper in the rough concentrate 91.35% at a quality of 6.74%. The obtained results of the experimental-industrial test will be confirmed with the results of laboratory-production tests.

Thus, the data obtained indicate that using the sample developed by the State Unitary Enterprise "Fan va tarakkiet" and STC LLC "KOMPOZIT NANOTEXNOLOGIYASI" on copper recovery and rough concentrate quality.

In this regard, the developed composite chemical flotation reagent-foaming agent of the KСF-ВS type is recommended for further use in the production of the copper-processing plant of JSC Almalyk MMC for flotation concentration of non-ferrous and noble metal ores.

Table 4.

Results of experiments in an open circuit on the consumption of foaming agents

Constant test conditions: grinding: 21 min. to content class - 0.071 mm 69%; i / m – 9g / t; CaO to pH 10.5-11.0. main fl.: 5 min; kst.-17g / t; control fl.: 7 min; kst. - 7g / t;

CONCLUSION

The optimal variant of the effective composition of composite chemical flotation reagents - blowing agents for use in the process of flotation of non-ferrous and noble metal ores in metallurgical industries is shown.

Investigated their physicochemical and technological properties using modern physicochemical methods for flotation concentration of non-ferrous and noble metal ores. Laboratory-production tests of the created composite chemical flotation reagents-blowing agents were carried out at the OOF TsLNT under the conditions of JSC Almalyk MMC, where positive results were obtained and was recommended for industrial use in the process of flotation of non-ferrous and noble metal ores instead of imported flotation reagents-blowing agents from abroad.

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