Original potential flotation of galena and its industrial application

Abstract

In the light of the knowledge gained by the study of electrochemical flotation for galena and selective flotation of galena from lead-zinc-iron sulfide ores, a technology for accurate potential control based on intrinsic electrochemical behavior in grinding-flotation systems has been developed and is called “Original Potential Flotation (OPF)”. The optimum conditions for the original potential flotation of galena from Pb-Zn-Fe sulfide ores are as follows: pH values of 12.5–12.8, potential of 150–180 mV and with diethyldithioncarbamate (DDTC) as collector. Lime is used as a regulator of pH, meanwhile, and can stabilize special potential very well, and this special potential is exactly the flotation potential of galena. This technology has been applied successfully in potential-control flotation of galena in many complex lead-zinc-iron sulfide mines in China.

Keywords

galena / electrochemistry / original potential flotation

References

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