A decrease in copper and iron recovery in the final concentrate of the Sarcheshmeh molybdenum circuit with a reduction in pH

Document Type : Research paper

Authors

1 Vali-E-Asr university of Rafsanjan

2 Mining Engineering Department, Vali-E-Asr University of Rafsanjan

3 Sarcheshmeh copper complex

Abstract

One of the important sources of molybdenum is porphyry copper ores in which molybdenite is produced as a by-product. At the Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex, copper and molybdenum minerals float cumulatively. In this step, copper minerals are floated using sulfhydryl collectors and molybdenum mineral is floated with a collector such as Gasoline; Then, in the molybdenum processing plant, copper minerals are depressed using sodium sulfide, and the molybdenite is floated. One of the factors affecting in depress of minerals containing copper and iron is pH. In this study, the appropriate pH value and the best place to add the pH reducing agent were determined to increase the efficiency of the molybdenum flotation circuit. For this purpose, and according to the places where it is possible to add acid operation, the circuit was divided into three parts: rougher stage, third and fifth cleaning stage, and samples were collected from these parts. The results showed that by decreasing the pH in the fifth cleaning stage from 12 to 10.5, copper and iron recovery decreases and efficiency increases. Therefore, the best place to add sulfuric acid, is the fifth cleaning stage.

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References

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Journal of Separation Science and Engineering
Volume 15, Issue 2
March 2024
Pages 17-24

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