Copper, zinc, or nickel recovery - by froth flotation and lixiviation of ore with oxygenated ammoniacal soln

摘要

The ore contg. the metal as a sulphide is treated by froth-flotation to form a primary concentrate. which is suspended in an aq. soln. contg. ammonium sulphate and free NH3 and vigorously agitated at 50-80 degrees C and at 0.7 bar gauge in the presence of circulating free O2, the soln then being sepd. from undissolved solid and treated to recover the metal, and undissolved solid being submitted to a sec. flotation to produce a sec. concentrate which is treated to recover the metal. The process only requires low temp. and atmos. pressure. The sec. concentrate is of improved quality and is reduced in quantity.