Effect of pH on the recovery and grade of base metal sulphides (PGMs) by flotation
- Muzenda, Edison, Afolabi, Ayo S., Abdulkareem, Ambali S., Ntuli, Freeman
- Authors: Muzenda, Edison , Afolabi, Ayo S. , Abdulkareem, Ambali S. , Ntuli, Freeman
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Platinum Group Metals , Metal sulphides , Flotation
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4713 , ISSN 2078-0966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10959
- Description: This study investigated the effect of pH on the recovery and grade of the Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) and base metal sulphides from the UG2 ore of the Bushveld Complex. This was achieved through running a series of test work in a Denver flotation cell at varying pH 6-11 at constant reagent dosage. The UG-2 reef is characterized by two predominant gangue phases i.e. chromite and silicate, that have significantly different physical and chemical properties. The test work was aimed at evaluating which pH gives best recoveries, and finding the effect of the chrome content in these recoveries. A pH of 9 gave the highest recovery compared to other pH ranges. However, the highest PGM grade was attained at a pH of 6 which is slightly acidic. Ideally this trend could be expected since the collectors (xanthates) are more stable in alkaline medium. The higher PGM recovery was also accompanied by higher chrome content as a result of their similar chemical properties.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Muzenda, Edison , Afolabi, Ayo S. , Abdulkareem, Ambali S. , Ntuli, Freeman
- Date: 2011
- Subjects: Platinum Group Metals , Metal sulphides , Flotation
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4713 , ISSN 2078-0966 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10959
- Description: This study investigated the effect of pH on the recovery and grade of the Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) and base metal sulphides from the UG2 ore of the Bushveld Complex. This was achieved through running a series of test work in a Denver flotation cell at varying pH 6-11 at constant reagent dosage. The UG-2 reef is characterized by two predominant gangue phases i.e. chromite and silicate, that have significantly different physical and chemical properties. The test work was aimed at evaluating which pH gives best recoveries, and finding the effect of the chrome content in these recoveries. A pH of 9 gave the highest recovery compared to other pH ranges. However, the highest PGM grade was attained at a pH of 6 which is slightly acidic. Ideally this trend could be expected since the collectors (xanthates) are more stable in alkaline medium. The higher PGM recovery was also accompanied by higher chrome content as a result of their similar chemical properties.
- Full Text:
Effect of oxygen and micro-cracking on the flotation of low grade nickel sulphide ore
- Muzenda, Edison, Afolabi, Ayo S.
- Authors: Muzenda, Edison , Afolabi, Ayo S.
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Flotation , Micro-cracking , Nickel sulphide ore , Oxygen
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4712 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10958
- Description: This study investigated the effect of oxygen and micro-cracking on the flotation of low grade nickel sulphide ore. The ore treated contained serpentine minerals which have a history of being difficult to process efficiently. The use of oxygen as a bubbling gas has been noted to be effective because it increases the pulp potential. The desired effect of micro cracking the ore is that the nickel sulphide minerals will become activated and this activation will render these minerals more susceptible to react with potassium amyl xanthate collectors, resulting in a higher recovery of nickel and hinder the recovery of other undesired minerals contained in the ore. Higher nickel recoveries were obtained when pure oxygen was used as a bubbling gas rather than the conventional air. Microwave cracking favored the recovery of nickel.
- Full Text:
- Authors: Muzenda, Edison , Afolabi, Ayo S.
- Date: 2010
- Subjects: Flotation , Micro-cracking , Nickel sulphide ore , Oxygen
- Type: Article
- Identifier: uj:4712 , http://hdl.handle.net/10210/10958
- Description: This study investigated the effect of oxygen and micro-cracking on the flotation of low grade nickel sulphide ore. The ore treated contained serpentine minerals which have a history of being difficult to process efficiently. The use of oxygen as a bubbling gas has been noted to be effective because it increases the pulp potential. The desired effect of micro cracking the ore is that the nickel sulphide minerals will become activated and this activation will render these minerals more susceptible to react with potassium amyl xanthate collectors, resulting in a higher recovery of nickel and hinder the recovery of other undesired minerals contained in the ore. Higher nickel recoveries were obtained when pure oxygen was used as a bubbling gas rather than the conventional air. Microwave cracking favored the recovery of nickel.
- Full Text:
- «
- ‹
- 1
- ›
- »