Etude de la flottabilité de la malachite à l'aide de l'amylxanthate de potassium et d'un acide gras. (Cas d'étude: Flottation du minerai oxydé de Kamfundwa au Katanga en RDC)
The present research is oriented towards studying the floatability of malachite with xanthate and fatty acids collectors. It focuses from one side on aspects related to surface phenomena and collector attachment mechanisms and on other side on improvement of processing flowsheet at industrial scale. The first part of our results concerns theoretical aspects related to floatability of malachite. Due to their surface properties, oxides are difficult to float with common xanthate collectors used in the industry in contrast to sulfide minerals. Therefore the surface state of malachite was analyzed at laboratory scale under different situations of floatability. The main analytical tools used for this part of the work are infrared spectroscopy and XPS. The methodological approach chosen is a surface chemical study outlining the balance between hydrophobic/hydrophilic adsorbed species. The characterization of pure malachite mineral was done according to the following threefold approach: Chemical- Energetical -Electrochemical. The results obtained which are in agreement with studies performed by other authors have allowed to construct adsorption isotherms and to explain certain adsorption mechanisms. The experimental results coming from the second part of the project are given in chapter V and have direct practical implication. Here flotation studies of copper and cobalt oxide ore coming from the Kamfundwa deposit were done using a Denver mechanical flotation machine. KAX and the Rinkalore 10 (fatty acids mixture) were used as collector. The results derived show that the performance of Kambove concentrator can be improved by using a KAX/Rinkalore mass ratio of 1 or 50/50 in (%) .The mineralogical analysis of the flotation tails reveals the presence of chrysocolla, a copper bearing mineral not easily recoverable under the experimental conditions used. The cost calculation regarding reagents consumption rate has enabled to validate a compromise between copper recovery and selectivity and has indicated then possible financial gain if the proposed modifications are to be introduced.
Engineering, computing & technology, Geological, petroleum & mining engineering, Ingénierie, informatique & technologie, Géologie, ingénierie du pétrole & des mines
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