Improving the flotation recovery of Cu from flash smelting slags by utilizing cellulose-based frother formulationss

Froth flotation is an operation currently used for the recovery of Cu from pyrometallurgical smelting slags due its simple and relatively low operational costs. While it has been utilized many decades, may be necessary to develop strategies that improve slags, as unprecedented increase in demand made industrial waste side streams economically relevant sources metals. This study presents a novel chemistry-based approach by utilizing amphiphilic cellulose-surfactant mixture frother, hereby referred CellFroth. The present work pursues two main objectives: i) performance treatment ii) accomplish first proof concept frothers produced renewable context treatment. CellFroth was compared with commercially available additive (i.e., DowFroth250) hydroxypropyl methyl cellulose (HPMC). results showed significant advantages At highest collector concentration, higher DowFroth 250 pure HPMC (73%; 62% 65% respectively). A 75% reduction xanthate concentrations had negligible effects on (70%), while recoveries decreased drastically DowFroth250 (47%) (50 %). Finally, consistently reached comparable concentrate productivity (grade recovery) DF250 within significantly shorter times. use thus offers possibility increasing flash reducing environmental impact process using frother sustainable simultaneously consumption.