Flotaciones de material de relave en la celda Denver usando reactivos químicos amigables con el medio ambiente para recuperar oro variando el p

Abstract

Abstract: Mineral flotation is a physical-chemical process used for recovering of valuable minerals such as Gold (Au). It performs the separation ofparticles due to their hydrophobicity, through the use of chemical reagents (collectors, foamers, depressants, media modifiers), and addition of air for the formation of bubbles and flotation of the mineral of interest.The present research work entitled "Flotations of tailings material in the Denver cell using environmentally friendly chemical reagents to recover gold by varying the pH", will compare the pH and collectors in order to obtain a combination between these two variables that offers an optimum recovery of gold (Au). The flotations were performed with Aerofloat -1208 and Aerofloat -1238 collectors, grain size of 70 μm, pH of 7 and 9.According to the tests carried out on the sample, its chemical analysis showed that it is composed mostly of silica (SiO2), to a lesser extent aluminum oxides (Al2O3) and iron (Fe2O3), the mineralogical analysis by microscope shows the presence of quartz, pyrite and chalcopyrite, its head grade is at 0.371 g / Ton.A total of 8 flotations were developed, which were divided into 4 in pH 7 and 4 in pH 9 these two variables were used 2 collectors, a DENVER SALA flotation cell was used, ModelD-12.The best recovery results were given at pH 9 with a yield of 73.53 % for the Aerofloat -1208 and 82.95 % for the Aerofloat -1238. According to the metallurgical balances, the best gold (Au) recovery result was achieved with Aerofloat 1238 at pH 9.