STUDY OF THE EFFECTS OF ACOUSTIC VIBRATION CONDITIONING OF COLLECTOR AND FROTHER ON FLOTATION OF SULFIDE ORES

The effects of acoustic vibration conditioning of xanthate solutions and frother emulsions have been investigated in relation to the flotation of pure minerals (galena, sphalerite, chalcopyrite and pyrite) and of porphyry-copper ores. The amount of dixanthogen obtained as a result of acoustic vibration pretreatment has been determined by UV spectra. The effect of this pretreatment applied to xanthate solutions has been established in the laboratory on the extraction and content of copper, sulphur, molybdenum, gold and silver. By optimizing of the time of sonic treatment, better metal recoveries and higher grades of concentrates may be obtained. Sonic treatment also improves the flotation kinetics. An apparatus was designed for the acoustic vibration conditioning of xanthate solutions and was tested at a section of an industrial copper flotation plant. Results show that the recovery of copper increased by 1.14%, molybdenum by 2.63% and sulphur by 2.63%. It has been determined that the improved recovery of copper is due to the higher recovery of the finest particles.