Abstract

BARANI, K.; GODARZI, M.  and  MORADPOURI, F.. Improving the lead flotation recovery at Lakan lead-zinc processing plant using high-intensity conditioning. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2022, vol.122, n.4, pp.173-180. ISSN 2411-9717.  https://doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/1968/2022.

A sampling campaign carried out on the lead flotation circuit at Lakan lead-zinc processing plant demonstrated that the Pb recovery was only about 68-69%. Characterization of the Pb flotation tailing showed that 61.4% of the Pb is in the -37 um size fraction, which is difficult to recover by flotation. Batch flotation experiments were carried out on a plant sample of the lead flotation feed and high-intensity conditioning (HIC) was used to improve flotation recovery. The results showed that increasing the collector conditioning time from 1 to 3 minutes significantly increases the Pb recovery from 42.5% to 57.3%. Further increases in conditioning time to 5 to 7 minutes decreased the Pb recovery. With a collector conditioning time of more than 3 minutes, due to the surface cleaning effect, increasing collector and frother dosage improved the flotation selectivity and recovery, even at higher collector dosages. The Pb recovery increased from 69.1% to 79.8% with increasing impeller speed from 600 to 1250 r/min. HIC increases the flotation kinetics and greatly improves the flotation recovery and concentrate grade.

Keywords : flotation; lead-zinc ore; high-intensity conditioning; Lakan plant.

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