2022 Fiscal Year Research-status Report
Development of separation method for secondary copper and arsenic minerals using flotation
| Project/Area Number |
22K14636
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| Research Institution | Kyushu University |
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Principal Investigator |
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| Project Period (FY) |
2022-04-01 – 2024-03-31
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| Keywords | enargite / chalcocite / hydrogen peroxide / potassium amyl xanthate / selective flotation / mineral separation |
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| Outline of Annual Research Achievements |
The separation of chalcocite (a secondary copper mineral) and enargite (a copper arsenic mineral) was studied using hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) oxidation treatment and flotation process. Flotation tests of pure and mixed minerals indicated that H2O2 treatment reduced the floatability of chalcocite and enargite by forming sulfate and copper hydroxide on their surfaces. Despite the detrimental effect of the H2O2 treatment, there was a narrow window of H2O2 concentration for separating both minerals, in which enargite floated and chalcocite was depressed. This selective flotation behavior was caused by the rapid adsorption of potassium amyl xanthate (KAX) and lower surface oxidation of enargite compared with that of chalcocite.
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| Current Status of Research Progress |
Current Status of Research Progress
2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.
Reason
The research was going smoothly, as planned. Although it is initially difficult to separate both chalcocite and enargite owing to their similarity and interactions, we optimize the separation process using various hydrogen peroxide concentrations. Unfortunately, we have yet to apply this process to covellite and tennantite, owing to difficulties obtaining high-quality covellite and tennantite.
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| Strategy for Future Research Activity |
We planned to obtain a high-quality covellite and tenanntite and then applied the similar oxidation treatment to evaluate the selective separation possibility. In addition, we are going to investigate other treatments for selective separation of chalcocite and enargite using flotation. Furthermore, we will try to apply this oxidation treatment with complex copper ores.
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| Causes of Carryover |
We plan to purchase high-quality covellite, tennantite, and other minerals for further research in the next fiscal year. We plan to buy a flotation machine and supporting equipment (i.e., nanobubble generator, glass column) for processing complex copper ores. These additional equipment and mineral samples will increase the number of experiments in the next fiscal year. Therefore, we estimate the sample analysis cost will also significantly increase. Furthermore, now that the pandemic is under control, we can attend the conference onsite, improving domestic and international mobility.
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