Abstracts Book - IMRC 2018

• SF5-P043
FLOTATION OF A COMPLEX SULFIDE ORE WITHOUT CYANIDE AS
PYRITE DEPRESSANT
Laura Angeles 1 , Martín Reyes Pérez 1 , Miguel Perez Labra 1 , Elia Palacios 2 , Francisco Patiño 3 , Julio
Cesar Juarez Tapia 1
1 Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Área Académica de Ciencias de la Tierra y
Materiales, Mexico. 2 Instituto Politécnico Nacional - IPN, ESIQUIE, Mexico. 3 Universidad
Politécnica Metropolitana de Hidalgo, Ingeniería en Energía, Mexico.
This study carried out a set of experiments for selective flotation for a Zn-Pb-Cu
complex sulfide mineral, with the intention of looking for a pyrite depressant
reagent that totally eliminates the use of sodium cyanide in this process. The
reagents analyzed were: sodium metabisulfite for the copper circuit and sodium
thiosulfate for the lead circuit, in addition, EDTA chelating agent was included.
The results at the first circuit show that the metabisulfite obtains a better
recovery of copper than that obtained with the cyanide; though, in the lead
circuit, the thiosulfate depresses the galena, and the recovery of lead is lower
than with the use of sodium cyanide. In addition, it is perceived that the addition
of EDTA in both circuits, upholds an optimal recovery for both concentrates.
Keywords: Cyanide, Sulfide Flotation, EDTA
Presenting authors email: laura_angeles_palazuelos@yahoo.com