Selective Flotation of Elemental Sulfur from Pressure Acid Leaching Residue of Zinc Sulfide

Abstract

An efficient flotation process was developed to selectively recover elemental sulfur from a high-sulfur pressure acid leaching residue of zinc sulfide concentrate. The process mineralogy analysis showed that the sulfur content reached 46.21%, and 81.97% of the sulfur existed as elemental sulfur which was the major mineral in the residue and primarily existed as pellet aggregate and biconical euhedral crystal. An elemental sulfur concentrate product with 99.9% of recovery and 83.46% of purity was obtained using the flotation process of one-time blank rougher, two-time agent-added roughers, and two-time cleaners with Z-200 as collector and Na2S + ZnSO4 + Na2SO3 as depressant. The flotation experiment using return water indicated that the cycle use of return water had no adverse effect on the flotation performance of elemental sulfur. The process mineralogy analysis manifested that main minerals in the residue directionally went into the flotation products. Most of elemental sulfur entered the concentrate while other minerals almost completely went into the tailing. Main valuable elements lead, zinc, and silver entered the tailing with sulfides and could be recovered by lead smelting. The proposed process can realize the comprehensive recovery of valuable components in the high-sulfur residue and thus it has wide industrial application prospect.

Research on High-Pressure Hydrochloric Acid Leaching of Scandium, Aluminum and Other Valuable Components from the Non-Magnetic Tailings Obtained from Red Mud after Iron Removal

“…The process of elemental sulfur precipitation is given in Section 3.2.2; sodium chloride was likely precipitated during the filtration of the mother liquors. To remove NaCl, washing by water can be applied, and to extract elemental sulfur, distillation [80] or flotation [81] can be used. Despite the mentioned disadvantages of the SSAT leaching, the total cost of red mud processing using sodium sulfate may be lower owing to the reduced roasting temperature and improved grindability of the roasted sample.…”

Research on High-Pressure Hydrochloric Acid Leaching of Scandium, Aluminium and Other Valuable Components from the Non-Magnetic Residues Obtained from Red Mud after Iron Removal

“…Furthermore, the residue obtained by the leaching of the SSAT sample can contain a substantial percentage of elemental sulfur and sodium chloride, so additional stages for their removal is necessary. To remove NaCl, washing by water can be applied, and to extract elemental sulfur, distillation [74] or flotation [75] can be used. Despite the mentioned disadvantages of the SSAT leaching, total cost of red mud processing using sodium sulfate may be lower owing to reduced roasting temperature and improved grindability of the roasted sample.…”

Adsorption of sulfur on Lanxess Lewatit® AF 5 resin during the acidic albion leaching process for chalcopyrite

“…Additionally, in the ensuing gold leaching process, the gold recovery is reduced and the cyanide consumption is increased as the sulfur coats the surface of the gold [ 7 , 8 ]. Several techniques have been employed to remove this sulfur during the leaching process including using organic solvents [ 9 , 10 ], flotation [ 11 , 12 ], sulfur distillation and condensation [ 13 ], solid sorbents [ 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ] and vacuum distillation [ 18 , 19 ]. When compared with each other, these procedures have various inherent characteristic advantages and disadvantages.…”