Flotation Separation of Chalcopyrite and Molybdenite Assisted by Microencapsulation Using Ferrous and Phosphate Ions: Part II. Flotation

Porphyry-type deposits are the major sources of copper and molybdenum, flotation has been adopted to recover them separately. The conventional reagents used for depressing minerals, such as NaHS, Na2S, Nokes reagent, have potential emit toxic H2S gas when pulp pH was not properly controlled. Thus, in this study applicability microencapsulation (ME) using ferrous phosphate ions an alternative process depress floatability chalcopyrite investigated. During ME treatment, use high concentrations together with air introduction increased amount FePO4 coating formed on surface, which proportional degree depression its floatability. Although treatment also reduced molybdenite, ~92% Mo could be recovered by utilizing emulsified kerosene. Flotation chalcopyrite/molybdenite mixture confirmed that separation efficiency greatly improved from 10.9% 66.8% employing a conditioning Cu-Mo separation.