Effects of collectors produced from selected tropical plants on the recovery of galena concentrate

Abstract

This research work studied the performance of collectors produced from corn oil, olive oil, soya beans and palm oils on the flotation of Ishiagu sulphide ore. The sulphide ore was comminuted and subjected to particle size analysis using the following particle sizes: 212µm, 150µm, 105µm, 75µm, 63µm and -63µm. The chemical analysis of the ore was carried out to determine the minerals present expressed in part per million (ppm). Collectors were prepared from the addition of potassium and sodium hydroxide solution in accordance with ASTM D543. The natural oils of the selected plants were used as frothers. In accordance with ISO 23499:2008 froth flotation experiments were carried out on the samples of different fractions using the locally prepared collectors from corn, olive, soya bean and palm oils. Flotation parameters used were pulp pH values of 9.00, 9.50, 10.00, 10.50 and 11.00; collector concentrations of 100mg/l, 200mg/l, 300mg/l, 400mg/l 500mg/l and 600mg/l and pulp densities of 10 g/l 20 g /l, 30g /l, 40g /l, 50g /l and 60g /l. Collector produced from corn oil in sodium hydroxide at particle size range of -105 +75µm gave the highest recovery of 93.24% for galena concentrate, while that of corn oil in potassium hydroxide gave highest recovery of 82.97% at the same particle size range for the galena concentrate. pH of 10.5 gave the highest recovery of 85.81% with corn oil in potassium hydroxide solution as the collector. Pulp density of 50g/l gave the highest recovery of 88.74% with corn oil in potassium hydroxide solution as the collector and collector concentrations 600mg/l gave the highest recovery of 90.99% also with corn oil in potassium hydroxide solution as the collector. Hence, optimum conditions of -105µm +75µm, pH of 10.5, pulp density of 50g/l and collector concentrations of 600mg/l is found suitable for the recovery of galena concentrate from the Ishiagu complex sulphide ore. Therefore, collectors and frothers produced from corn oil in potassium and sodium hydroxide are possible substitutes for the imported ones.