Effect of Oxygen and Micro-Cracking on the Flotation of Low Grade Nickel Sulphide Ore
This study investigated the effect of oxygen and
micro-cracking on the flotation of low grade nickel sulphide ore. The
ore treated contained serpentine minerals which have a history of
being difficult to process efficiently. The use of oxygen as a bubbling
gas has been noted to be effective because it increases the pulp
potential. The desired effect of micro cracking the ore is that the
nickel sulphide minerals will become activated and this activation
will render these minerals more susceptible to react with potassium
amyl xanthate collectors, resulting in a higher recovery of nickel and
hinder the recovery of other undesired minerals contained in the ore.
Higher nickel recoveries were obtained when pure oxygen was used
as a bubbling gas rather than the conventional air. Microwave
cracking favored the recovery of nickel.
[1] A. N. Kerr, "Effect of pulp rheology on flotation: the nickel sulfide ore
with asbestos gangue system," in: I. Kilickaplan, 2007.
[2] H. Kuopanportti, E. Pollanen and T. Suorsa, "Effect of oxygen on
kinetics of conditioning in sulphide ore flotation," Minerals
Engineering, vol. 10, series. I1, pp.1193-1205, pp. 1997.
[3] D. Weston, "Flotation of copper-nickel sulfide ores," United States
Patents, 1976.
[4] G. Barbery, A. W. Fletcher, C. Chem, and L.L. Sirois, "Exploitation of
complex sulphide deposits: a review of processing options from ore to
metals," in Complex Sulphide Ores, M. J Jones, Ed., The Institution of
Mining and Metallurgy, London, pp. 135-150.
[5] G. D. Senoir, and A. S. Thomas, "Development and implementation of a
new flow sheet for the flotation of a low grade nickel ore," International
Journal of Minerals Processing, vol. isuue. 1, pp. 49-61, 2005.
[6] S. W. Kingman, "Recent developments in microwave processing of
minerals," International Materials Rev. vol. 51, pp. 1-12, 2006.
[7] M. Al-Harahsheh, and S. W. Kingman, "Microwave-assisted leaching
ÔÇö a review," Hydrometallurgy, vol. 73, issue 3-4, pp. 189-2003, June
2004.
[8] P. A. Olubambi, "Influence of microwave pretreatment on the
bioleaching behaviour of low-grade complex sulphide ores,"
Hydrometallurgy, vol. 95, issue 1-2, pp. 159-165, February 2009.
[9] T. Rosenqvist, "Principles of Extractive Metallurgy," McGraw-Hill
Kogakusha, Ltd. pp.209, 1974.
[10] J. Wiese, P. Harris, D. Bradshaw, "The response of sulphide and gangue
minerals in selected Merensky ores to increased depressant dosages,"
Minerals Engineering, vol. 20, issue 10, pp. 986-995, 2007.
[11] K. Heiskanen, V. Kirjavainen and N. Schreithofer, "Effect of some
process variables on flotability of sulfide nickel ores," International
Journal of Mineral Processing, vol. 65, issue 2, pp. 59-72, 2002.
[1] A. N. Kerr, "Effect of pulp rheology on flotation: the nickel sulfide ore
with asbestos gangue system," in: I. Kilickaplan, 2007.
[2] H. Kuopanportti, E. Pollanen and T. Suorsa, "Effect of oxygen on
kinetics of conditioning in sulphide ore flotation," Minerals
Engineering, vol. 10, series. I1, pp.1193-1205, pp. 1997.
[3] D. Weston, "Flotation of copper-nickel sulfide ores," United States
Patents, 1976.
[4] G. Barbery, A. W. Fletcher, C. Chem, and L.L. Sirois, "Exploitation of
complex sulphide deposits: a review of processing options from ore to
metals," in Complex Sulphide Ores, M. J Jones, Ed., The Institution of
Mining and Metallurgy, London, pp. 135-150.
[5] G. D. Senoir, and A. S. Thomas, "Development and implementation of a
new flow sheet for the flotation of a low grade nickel ore," International
Journal of Minerals Processing, vol. isuue. 1, pp. 49-61, 2005.
[6] S. W. Kingman, "Recent developments in microwave processing of
minerals," International Materials Rev. vol. 51, pp. 1-12, 2006.
[7] M. Al-Harahsheh, and S. W. Kingman, "Microwave-assisted leaching
ÔÇö a review," Hydrometallurgy, vol. 73, issue 3-4, pp. 189-2003, June
2004.
[8] P. A. Olubambi, "Influence of microwave pretreatment on the
bioleaching behaviour of low-grade complex sulphide ores,"
Hydrometallurgy, vol. 95, issue 1-2, pp. 159-165, February 2009.
[9] T. Rosenqvist, "Principles of Extractive Metallurgy," McGraw-Hill
Kogakusha, Ltd. pp.209, 1974.
[10] J. Wiese, P. Harris, D. Bradshaw, "The response of sulphide and gangue
minerals in selected Merensky ores to increased depressant dosages,"
Minerals Engineering, vol. 20, issue 10, pp. 986-995, 2007.
[11] K. Heiskanen, V. Kirjavainen and N. Schreithofer, "Effect of some
process variables on flotability of sulfide nickel ores," International
Journal of Mineral Processing, vol. 65, issue 2, pp. 59-72, 2002.
@article{"International Journal of Chemical, Materials and Biomolecular Sciences:60241", author = "Edison Muzenda and Ayo S Afolabi", title = "Effect of Oxygen and Micro-Cracking on the Flotation of Low Grade Nickel Sulphide Ore", abstract = "This study investigated the effect of oxygen and
micro-cracking on the flotation of low grade nickel sulphide ore. The
ore treated contained serpentine minerals which have a history of
being difficult to process efficiently. The use of oxygen as a bubbling
gas has been noted to be effective because it increases the pulp
potential. The desired effect of micro cracking the ore is that the
nickel sulphide minerals will become activated and this activation
will render these minerals more susceptible to react with potassium
amyl xanthate collectors, resulting in a higher recovery of nickel and
hinder the recovery of other undesired minerals contained in the ore.
Higher nickel recoveries were obtained when pure oxygen was used
as a bubbling gas rather than the conventional air. Microwave
cracking favored the recovery of nickel.", keywords = "Flotation, Conventional air, Oven micro-cracking,Recovery.", volume = "4", number = "9", pages = "594-6", }