A Study of the Optimal Model of the Flotation Kinetics of Copper Slag from Copper Mine BOR

Abstract In this study the effect of mixtures of copper slag and flotation tailings from copper mine Bor, Serbia on the flotation results of copper recovery and flotation kinetics parameters in a batch flotation cell has been investigated. By simultaneous adding old flotation tailings in the ball mill at the rate of 9%, it is possible to increase copper recovery for about 20%. These results are compared with obtained copper recovery of pure copper slag. The results of batch flotation test were fitted by MatLab software for modeling the first-order flotation kinetics in order to determine kinetics parameters and define an optimal model of the flotation kinetics. Six kinetic models are tested on the batch flotation copper recovery against flotation time. All models showed good correlation, however the modified Kelsall model provided the best fit.

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Investigation of the optimal technology for copper leaching from old flotation tailings of the copper mine bor (Serbia)

Metallurgical and Materials Engineering ◽

10.30544/514 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 26 (2) ◽

pp. 209-222 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Vesna Conić ◽

Srđan Stanković ◽

Branislav Marković ◽

Dragana Božić ◽

Jovica Stojanović ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Iron Concentration ◽

Copper Recovery ◽

Copper Extraction ◽

Efficient Technology ◽

Flotation Tailings ◽

Copper Mine ◽

Moderately Thermophilic ◽

Acidophilic Bacteria ◽

Leaching Experiment ◽

Optimal Technology

This work aimed to investigate optimal leaching technology for copper extraction from old flotation tailings of the Copper Mine Bor. The leaching degree of copper after leaching with sulphuric acid at 80 °C was 50%, the maximal leaching degree was achieved after 30 minutes. Then, old flotation tailings were leached with adapted moderately thermophilic acidophilic bacteria in a bioreactor at 40 °C. Maximal leaching degree of 84% was achieved after nine days of the experiment. The third leaching experiment was conducted with biogenic lixiviant obtained by bacterial oxidation of the ferrous iron (concentration of Fe3+ 1300 mgL-1, pH 2.14). Biogenic lixiviant with ferric sulphate was then used in the leaching experiment at 80 °C. Maximal leaching degree was 78%, and it was achieved after five minutes. Results of the leaching experiments show that the most efficient technology for copper recovery from the old flotation tailings of the Copper Mine Bor was leaching with biogenic lixiviant.

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Microbial & Mineralogical Dynamics during Copper Sulfides Bioleaching, the Search for the Missing Link

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.1130.131 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 1130 ◽

pp. 131-135

Author(s):

Roberto A. Bobadilla-Fazzini ◽

Patricia Piña ◽

Veronica Gautier ◽

Karen Brunel ◽

Pilar Parada

Keyword(s):

Dynamic Process ◽

Copper Sulfide ◽

Pure Copper ◽

Copper Recovery ◽

Process Conditions ◽

Secondary Phases ◽

Microbial Dynamics ◽

Copper Sulfides ◽

The One ◽

Kinetics Of

Bioleaching involves a chemical-microbial-driven dynamic process of oxidation and dissolution, as well as precipitation and formation of surface secondary phases that change the copper sulfide exposure/occlusion profiles. This dynamic process determines the kinetics of copper sulfides bioleaching. Former studies have shown the microbiological dynamics of the leaching solutions, and most mineralogical studies have been done with pure copper sulfide species under controlled conditions. In this work we aim to unravel the link between the microbiology and the mineralogy during the bioleaching of a mainly primary copper sulfide ore through the determination of the surface microbial and mineralogical variations in time applying process conditions. The results showed that the microbial dynamics in the leaching solutions is not representative of the bioleaching process since it differs significantly from the one established at the ore surface. Moreover, a major and fast alteration of the primary copper sulfide minerals chalcopyrite (CuFeS2) and bornite (Cu5FeS4) was observed, having as the major bioleaching intermediate the formation of covellite (CuS). When the ore was subjected to a mesophilic inoculation, the microbial dynamics was modified, significantly changing the mineralogical dynamics of these primary sulfides and enhancing the overall kinetics of copper recovery.

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