The Flotation Modification Test of Chrysocolla Research on RSM

This study is focused on the flotation of a cooper mineral.Chrysocolla is poor flotability, surface porous, high porosity, nonuniform property, so it has strong hydrophilic and difficult dissolution. XRD and SEM were used to detect the properties and surface morphology of chrysocolla. The paper make an experiment, it contain modified polymer adsorption - intermediate metal copper ion connection - collector adsorption testing program. The experiment can exchange mineral surface property which enhancing mineral flotation and hydrophobicity. With the conclusion, the results have a trend that increasing the agents can increase mineral recovery, then mineral recovery reach the stable trend. In the simulation of RSM, mineral recovery is based on 3 factors ammonium, xanthate and agent, those factors interact with each other, simulation find the main factor is agent. RSM response surface method has the function of optimizing test results, improving test efficiency, inputting test influence factors and results, and getting the best test factors and results through test simulation.

Analysis of the Dynamics of Rougher Cells on the Basis of Phenomenological Models and Discrete Event Simulation Framework

Due to the increase in the amount of copper sulphide minerals processed through concentration processes and the need to improve the efficiency of these production processes, the development of theoretical models is making an important contribution to generating a better understanding of their dynamics, making it possible to identify the optimal conditions for the recovery of minerals, the impact of the independent variables in the responses, and the sensitivity of the recovery to variations in both the input variables and the operational parameters. This paper proposes a method for modeling, sensitizing, and optimizing the mineral recovery in rougher cells using a discrete event simulation (DES) framework and the fitting of analytical models on the basis of operational data from a concentration pilot plant. A sensitivity analysis was performed for low, medium, and high levels of the operative variables and/or parameters. The outcomes of the modeling indicate that the optimum mineral recovery is reached at medium levels of the flow rate of gas, bubble size, turbulence dissipation rate, surface tension, Reynolds number of bubble, bubble–particle contact angle, superficial gas velocity and gas hold-up in the froth zone. Additionally, the optimal response is reached at maximum levels of particle size and density and at minimum levels of bubble speed, fluid kinematic viscosity and fluid density in the sampled range. Finally, the recovery has an asymptotic behavior over time; however, the optimum recovery depends on an economic analysis, examining the marginalization of the response over time in an operational context.

The Use of Heap Bioleaching as a Pre-Treatment for Platinum Group Metal Leaching

Two samples, a Platreef flotation concentrate and coarse ore (<6 mm), were column bioleached at 65°C using a culture dominated by Metallosphaera hakonensis. Based on solution assays, extractions in excess of 90% Cu and Ni were achieved from the flotation concentrate, while from the coarse ore 96% Cu and 67% Ni extractions were achieved. The difference in extraction levels and leaching patterns despite identical conditions used for both samples is discussed, as is the performance of the samples during a follow-up leach step using cyanide to extract the PGMs in a separate column leach experiment. While the recovery of Pd and Au was excellent during these steps, recovery of Pt was limited to 35% after 45 days for the concentrate and 56% after 60 days for the whole ore material, primarily due to the presence of a refractory Pt mineral. Recovery from a concentrate without pre-treatment was substantially lower.