The Challenges and Prospects of Recovering Fine Copper Sulfides from Tailings Using Different Flotation Techniques: A Review

Abstract

Flotation is a common mineral processing method used to upgrade copper sulfide ores; in this method, copper sulfide mineral particles are concentrated in froth, and associated gangue minerals are separated as tailings. However, a significant amount of copper is lost into tailings during the processing; therefore, tailings can be considered secondary resources or future deposits of copper. Particle–bubble collision efficiency and particle–bubble aggregate stability determines the recovery of target particles; this attachment efficiency plays a vital role in the selectivity process. The presence of fine particles in the flotation circuit is because of excessive grinding, which is to achieve a higher degree of liberation. Complex sulfide ores of markedly low grade further necessitate excessive grinding to achieve the maximum degree of liberation. In the flotation process, fine particles due to their small mass and momentum are unable to collide with rising bubbles, and their rate of flotation is very slow, further lowering the recovery of target minerals. This collision efficiency mainly depends on the particle–bubble size ratio and the concentration of particles present in the pulp. To overcome this problem and to maintain a favorable particle–bubble size ratio, different techniques have been employed by researchers to enhance particle–bubble collision efficiency either by increasing particle size or by decreasing bubble size. In this article, the mechanism of tailing loss is discussed in detail. In addition, flotation methods for fine particles recovery such as microbubble flotation, column flotation, nanobubble flotation, polymer flocculation, shear flocculation, oil agglomeration, and carrier flotation are reviewed, and their applications and limitations are discussed in detail.

Editorial for Special Issue “Sustainable Production of Metals for Low-Carbon Technologies”

“…The challenges encountered in the use of flotation in the recovery of valuable minerals are that the particle sizes of these minerals sent to tailing dams are too fine for conventional flotation. In a review paper by Bilal et al [7], the authors was found the challenges of fine particles' flotation from tailings can be addressed by decreasing the bubble size in the flotation vessel (e.g., the use of column flotation, micro-or nano-bubble flotation) and increasing the particle size approaches (e.g., polymer flocculation, shear flocculation, oil agglomeration, and carrier flotation).…”

Studi Pengaruh Titik Penambahan Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (SIBX) dan Kecepatan Impeller pada Performa Flotasi Mineral Tembaga

“…Masalah lama yang belum teratasi dengan baik adalah flotasi untuk fine particle (38-13 µm) dan ultrafine particle (<13 µm). Fine particle dan coarse particle terlebih ultrafine particle menghasilkan performa yang buruk bandingkan dengan ukuran menengah [15]. Alasan mengapa hal ini bisa terjadi adalah karena tiga karakteristik fine particle memiliki massa partikel yang rendah.…”

New Insight into Elastic Mechanical Properties and Anisotropies of Crystal Defect α-Quartz from DFT Calculation

“…α quartz is the dominant mineral in a variety of rock types, including sedimentary, metamorphic, and igneous rocks. 2 The presence of quartz leads to the excessive crushing of the target minerals, resulting in the loss of approximately 10 to 20% of valuable metallic minerals per year 3 and also leads to higher energy consumption for grinding. Separating valuable metallic mineral resources from quartz is a significant challenge due to its sturdy and tough structure that resists crushing and grinding.…”