Effect of MgO minerals on pentlandite flotation

Date

2006

Authors

Fornasiero, D.
Ralston, J.

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Conference paper

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Proceedings of XXIII international mineral processing congress, 2006, pp.750-755

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(3 Sep 2006 : Istanbul, Turkey)

Abstract

It was found that MgO minerals present in a nickel ore reduced the nickel grade as these minerals report to the concentrate by entrainment as fine liberated particles or by true flotation as composite particles with sulfide minerals, as fine particles coating the surface of these sulfide minerals or after copperactivation by the copper minerals present in the ore. Nickel recovery was also reduced as these MgO minerals are hydrophilic. Addition of negatively charged polymers such as carboxylmethyl cellulose or phosphate-guar gum could improve Ni grade by increasing Ni recovery and decreasing MgO recovery. It was possible, using a combination of bulk and surface analytical techniques together with flotation experiments, to explain the negative effect of these MgO minerals on the Ni grade and recovery. In particular, Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass spectroscopy was used to measure the distribution of the polymeric depressants on the surface of the various minerals in the ore.

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