Tecflote - Novel Chemistry for New Sulfide Collectors Peter Zhou, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Tecflote - Novel Chemistry for New Sulfide Collectors Peter Zhou, Andrew Lewis, and Henrik Nordberg SME Denver February 2019 Agenda Nouryon Thiol-based collectors Tecflote non-thiol new chemistry Collector chemistry
Peter Zhou, Andrew Lewis, and Henrik Nordberg SME Denver February 2019
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❖Collector chemistry ❖Flotation mechanism ❖Flotation performance ❖Technical summary
Former AkzoNobel Specialty Chemicals
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Copper Sulfide
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Potash Phosphate Iron Ore Calcite
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Chemistry of historical sulfide collectors 1882 Xanthate was first made by Zeise 1924 Xanthate first used in flotation 1928 Dithiophosphate first patented for flotation 1954 Thionocarbamate first patented for flotation Collector developments historically focused around thiol-based chemistry
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Tecflote S10 R ≈ C14-C20
Solid Insoluble in water For: Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, Ni Liquid version is available
Tecflote S11 C20-C40
Liquid Insoluble in water For: Cu, Zn, Pb, Mo, Ni
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▪ Tecflote: designed for flotation of sulfide ores ▪ Unique features vs. traditional thiol collectors:
❖Completely different particle / bubble attachment mechanism ❖Significantly better performance (selectivity and recovery) for Au and Ag – Nitriles strong affinity to Au and PGM elements ❖Excellent discrimination against pyrite at natural pH without lime ❖Cu flotation: distinguishing feature of steep grade recovery curve ❖Excellent performance for hypogene ores
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Different particle / bubble attachment vs. conventional thiol collectors Nitrile functional group: -C≡N
Surface analysis (ToF-SIMS): Tecflote selectively attaching to the Cu particles (chalcopyrite)
CN- ion fragment from chalcopyrite surfaces in the concentrate
CN- 35 Cl- 37 Cl- 16 O- 17 OH-
Atomic mass units (AMU)
321
Intensity Intensity
ToF-SIMS spectra of individual floated particles
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Different particle / bubble attachment vs. conventional thiol collectors Highly surface active
S10 solution (pendant drop)
Low solubility
for particle attachment Hydrophobic tail for bubble attachment
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A completely different particle/bubble attachment mechanism compared to conventional collectors
Tecflote is surface active and spreads easily on the air-water interface
turbulent pulp zone the froth zone
The collector attaches to the particle after it collides with the bubble
experiments with a turbulent pulp without air showed no mineral collector attachment
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❖Significantly better selectivity and recovery for Au and Ag vs. thiol collectors (PAX)
❖nitriles have an affinity to Au and PGM elements
❖Excellent discrimination against pyrite (to suppress pyrite) at natural pH without lime for many ore types
Au recovery versus total S recovery
Feed: Cu 0.35%, Au 2.5ppm, S as pyrite 7% Rougher + cleaning
Improved Performance
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Mine site laboratory
Feed: Cu 0.15%, total S 2.0%, Mo 0.002%
Rougher + re-grind + cleaning
Improved Performance
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Improved Performance Mine site laboratory
Feed: Cu 0.15%, total S 2.0%, Mo 0.002% Rougher + re-grind + cleaning
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Improved Performance Mine site laboratory
Feed: Cu 0.15%, total S 2.0%, Mo 0.002% Rougher + re-grind + cleaning
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Improved Performance Zn grade and recovery, no lime
Feed: Zn 1.8%, total S 2.2% Rougher + cleaning
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Behaviors of Tecflote in flotation dependent on the collector solubility.
Collector attaching to the mineral particles at the air / water interface, not from dissolved collector molecules in the pulp
Tecflote: significantly good performance at rejecting pyrite and upgrading
the cleaner steps Every ore and plant process is unique; customized collector systems for
The steep grade recovery curve benefit at the cleaning steps Better results achievable through scavenger steps and mixed collectors at most plants
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Selectivity against pyrite Steep grade recovery curve Unique particle / bubble attachment mechanism Excellent performance for hypogene
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Peter Zhou Nouryon, Surface Chemistry 281 Fields Lane, Brewster NY 10509, USA Tel: 1 - 845 276 8310, E-mail: Peter.Zhou@Nouryon.com