Search for new amide-class collecting agents and study of their flotation activity in the process of copper-nickel ore flotation

Abstract

The issue of expanding the range of effective flotation reagents remains relevant due to the deteriorating ore base and the involvement in processing of refractory ores with complex mineral composition. In recent years, complexing reagents capable of forming strong complexes with transition metal ions have been of increasing interest. At that, insertion of an additional functional group into the structure of the reagent molecule can provide a more complete extraction of the useful component. The purpose of this work is to evaluate the efficiency of using nitrogen-containing monoderivatives of dicarboxylic acids from the amide class as collecting agents for flotation of copper-nickel ores. The synthesis of monoalkylamides of succinic and phthalic acids with different hydrocarbon radicals as well as their complexes with copper and nickel was carried out. The formation of complexes was confirmed by extraction method, chemical analysis and Raman spectroscopy. It was noted that during the extraction of copper and nickel by the reagents under consideration, an effective process of complexation in the organic phase takes place. Their interaction with the surface of copper-and nickel-containing minerals was evaluated by the method of frothless flotation in comparison with the traditional collector. It is shown that monoalkylamides are more efficient towards nickel-containing minerals. Flotation tests on a sample of finely disseminated copper-nickel ore with copper content of 0.182% and nickel content of 0.479% have shown that succinic acid monoalkylamide as an independent collector with its own foaming properties and in a mixture with butyl xanthate shows greater selectivity. The best results were obtained when it was used in a mixture with butyl xanthate at a ratio of 70 : 30.