Flotation Recovery of Sphalerite in Sea Water: A Feasibility Study

Mining and mineral processing industry adversely affects ecosystems communities in nearby areas, including high freshwater consumption scarcity. That is why the emerging global trend to use sea water flotation recover valuable minerals from finely disseminated base metals ores. Recent studies investigate of copper, molybdenum, nickel sulphides pyrite, while sphalerite, main for zinc production, remains uncovered. This paper examines feasibility sphalerite by conventional collectors artificial using a bubble-particles technique frothless tests. Potassium isopropyl xanthate (PIPX) sodium dithiophosphate (SIDTP) were used as collectors, copper sulphate was introduced activator, sulphide depressants. We examined most common size fractions sphalerite: medium (−74 + 44 μm) fines (−44 μm). The findings showed water. also established correlations between rate bubble-particle attachment recovery resulting growth with increase rate. results can be guidelines choosing reagents Another practical application potential sustainable development industrial sector, societies due replacement fresh water, although further technological environmental are required.