METHOD OF SEPARATING ARSENIC MINERAL FROM COPPER-CONTAINING SUBSTANCE WITH HIGH ARSENIC CONTENT

摘要

A method for obtaining a low-arsenic-content refined copper ore is provided in which an arsenic mineral is separated from a copper-containing substance containing arsenic, such as a copper ore or refined copper ore. The method comprises adding a flotation agent comprising an inhibitor, a frothing agent, and a collector to a slurry of a copper-containing substance containing arsenic and bubbling air into this slurry to float a refined copper ore, i.e., to conduct flotation, and thereby separate an arsenic mineral from the copper-containing substance, wherein the inhibitor comprises sodium thiosulfate.  The sodium thiosulfate is added in an amount of preferably 10 to 200 kg in terms of the amount of the pentahydrate per ton of the copper-containing substance to be subjected to the flotation.  It is preferred that the slurry during the flotation have an oxidation/reduction potential, as measured using a silver-silver chloride electrode as a reference electrode, of -10 to 50 mV.