Abstract

BOUJOUNOUI, K. et al. Effect of zinc process water recycling on galena flotation from a complex sulphide ore. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2022, vol.122, n.11, pp.647-653. ISSN 2411-9717.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/241/2022.

The effects of utilizing recycled tailings pond water from the flotation plant at the Mining Company of Guemassa (MCG) on galena recovery and selectivity towards chalcopyrite (R_Pb-Cu) , sphalerite (R_Pb-Zn), and pyrrhotite (R_Pb-Fe) were studied at bench scale. The results showed that recycling the tailings pond water in the lead circuit without addition of fresh water gave a good flotation performance in terms of lead recovery (R_pb) (75%) and selectivity towards the other metals: R_Pb-Cu (54%), R_Pb-Zn (60%) and R_Pb-Fe(65%). This allows the water to be recycled at least four times. However, increasing the d₈₀ from 100 um to 160 um currently used at the MCG plant had a negative effect on the lead flotation performance.

Keywords : flotation; complex sulphide ore; process water recycling.

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