Fusion of the Microbial World into the Flotation Process

AbstractCollector type and pulp pH play an important role in the lead–zinc ore flotation process. In the current study, the effect of pulp pH and the collector type parameters on the galena and sphalerite flotation from a complex lead–zinc–iron ore was investigated. The ethyl xanthate and Aero 3418 collectors were used for lead flotation and Aero 3477 and amyl xanthate for zinc flotation. It was found that maximum lead grade could be achieved by using Aero 3418 as collector at pH 8. Also, iron and zinc recoveries and grades were increased in the lead concentrate at lower pH which caused zinc recovery reduction in the zinc concentrate and decrease the lead grade concentrate. Furthermore, the results showed that the maximum zinc grade and recovery of 42.9% and 76.7% were achieved at pH 6 in the presence of Aero 3477 as collector. For both collectors at pH 5, Zinc recovery was increased around 2–3%; however, the iron recovery was also increased at this pH which reduced the zinc concentrate quality. Finally, pH 8 and pH 6 were selected as optimum pH values for lead and zinc flotation circuits, respectively.

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Polyurethane foam as biomass support for removal of thiosalts from flotation process water

Minerals Engineering ◽

10.1016/j.mineng.2021.106940 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 169 ◽

pp. 106940

Author(s):

Alfonso Mazuelos ◽

Nieves Iglesias-Gonzalez ◽

Cristina Montes-Rosua ◽

Aurora Romero-Garcia ◽

Rafael Romero ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Polyurethane Foam ◽

Process Water ◽

Flotation Process

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The microbial world in a changing environment

Revista chilena de historia natural ◽

10.1186/s40693-021-00099-y ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 94 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Rafael Vicuña ◽

Bernardo González

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Microbial Communities ◽

Recent Literature ◽

Public Awareness ◽

Complete Evaluation ◽

Microbial World ◽

Sustainable Environment ◽

Entire Planet ◽

New Strategies

Abstract Background In this article we would like to touch on the key role played by the microbiota in the maintenance of a sustainable environment in the entire planet. For obvious reasons, this article does not intend to review thoroughly this extremely complex topic, but rather to focus on the main threats that this natural scenario is presently facing. Methods Recent literature survey. Results Despite the relevance of microorganisms have in our planet, the effects of climate change on microbial communities have been scarcely and not systematically addressed in literature. Although the role of microorganisms in emissions of greenhouse gases has received some attention, there are several microbial processes that are affected by climate change with consequences that are presently under assessment. Among them, host-pathogen interactions, the microbiome of built environment, or relations among plants and beneficial microbes. Conclusions Further research is required to advance in knowledge of the effect of climate change on microbial communities. One of the main targets should be a complete evaluation of the global microbial functional diversity and the design of new strategies to cope with limitations in methods to grow microorganisms in the laboratory. These efforts should contribute to raise a general public awareness on the major role played by the microbiota on the various Earth ecosystems.

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Recovery of Zinc and Silver from Zinc Acid-Leaching Residues with Reduction of Their Environmental Impact Using a Novel Water Leaching-Flotation Process

Minerals ◽

10.3390/min11060586 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (6) ◽

pp. 586

Author(s):

Yunpeng Du ◽

Xiong Tong ◽

Xian Xie ◽

Wenjie Zhang ◽

Hanxu Yang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Hazardous Waste ◽

Acid Leaching ◽

Copper Recovery ◽

Water Leaching ◽

Flotation Process ◽

Metal Levels ◽

Valuable Metals ◽

Leaching Experiments ◽

Zinc Hydrometallurgy ◽

Poor Stability

Zinc-leaching residue (ZLR) is a strongly acidic hazardous waste; it has poor stability, high heavy metal levels, and releases toxic elements into the environment. ZLR has potential as a valuable resource, because it contains elevated levels of zinc and silver. In this paper, the recovery of zinc (Zn) and silver (Ag) from ZLR wastes from zinc hydrometallurgy workshops using water leaching followed by flotation was studied. During water leaching experiments, the zinc and copper recovery rates were 38% and 61%, respectively. Thereafter, various flotation testing parameters were optimized and included grinding time, reagent dosages, pulp density, flotation time, and type of adjuster. Experimental results demonstrated this flotation method successfully recycled Ag and Zn. A froth product containing more than 9256.41 g/t Ag and 12.26% Zn was produced from the ZLR with approximately 80.32% Ag and 42.88% Zn recoveries. The toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) results indicated the water-leaching flotation process not only recycled valuable metals such as zinc and silver in zinc-containing hazardous wastes but lowered the hazardous waste levels to those of general wastes and recycled wastes in an efficient, economical, and environmentally friendly way.

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Interfacial Tension Sensor for Low Dosage Surfactant Detection

Colloids and Interfaces ◽

10.3390/colloids5010009 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 5 (1) ◽

pp. 9

Author(s):

Piotr Pawliszak ◽

Bronwyn H. Bradshaw-Hajek ◽

Christopher Greet ◽

William Skinner ◽

David A. Beattie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Interfacial Tension ◽

Microfluidic Device ◽

Profile Analysis ◽

Simple Method ◽

Bubble Generation ◽

Flotation Process ◽

Line Measurement ◽

Tension Sensor ◽

Low Dosage

Currently there are no available methods for in-line measurement of gas-liquid interfacial tension during the flotation process. Microfluidic devices have the potential to be deployed in such settings to allow for a rapid in-line determination of the interfacial tension, and hence provide information on frother concentration. This paper presents the development of a simple method for interfacial tension determination based on a microfluidic device with a flow-focusing geometry. The bubble generation frequency in such a microfluidic device is correlated with the concentration of two flotation frothers (characterized by very different adsorption kinetic behavior). The results are compared with the equilibrium interfacial tension values determined using classical profile analysis tensiometry.

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