The effect of ultrasound in copper-nickel sulphide flotation.

摘要

Many processes occurring in liquid are known to benefit from ultrasonic irradiation. Based on this premise, the usefulness of ultrasound was explored in the flotation of copper-nickel sulphide ores mined in the Sudbury basin. A series of comparative flotation experiments were carried out on these ores in the presence and absence of ultrasonic field, with the ultrasound being applied at different stages of the process (i.e. pulp preconditioning, collector conditioning, and actual flotation). Tests were conducted on both the non-oxidized and oxidized ore samples, and the influences of several variables were investigated, including ultrasound frequency (25 kHz and 45 kHz), ultrasonic power (up to 100 W/gallon), duration of ultrasonic treatment (up to 45 minutes), and pulp stirring speed employed during the application of ultrasound. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)