Utilizing Russian polymer anion active depressants in the flotation of out-of-balance talcose copper nickel ore

Abstract

Experimental studies were conducted on the flotation of low-sulfide copper-nickel ore containing flotation-active magnesium silicates, specifically talc, using organic polymeric anionic reagents containing carboxyl and hydroxyl groups as depressants. The following reagents, which contain carboxyl groups, were examined: carboxymethyl cellulose and carboxymethylated starch; polyacrylic acid and its derivatives; sodium humate. Copolymers of ethylene oxide with ethylenediamine and glycerol containing hydroxyl groups were also investigated. The objective of this study was to identify new efficient domestic depressants for flotation-active silicates, selectively acting in the flotation of low-sulfide copper-nickel ore, in comparison with the performance of foreign Depramin 347 depressant. The impact of depressant reagents on the surface properties of talc was determined by the values of air bubble detachment force and electrokinetic potential. It was observed that for reagents containing carboxyl groups, the depressing effectiveness decreased in the following order: carboxymethyl cellulose → carboxymethylated starch → polyacrylic acid → sodium humate. This reduction was attributed to a decrease in the acidic properties of the reagents, a decline in their adsorption affinity for talc, and a decrease in the proportion of active carboxyl groups participating in the formation of the electrokinetic potential. Furthermore, a trend towards increased depressing ability was noted for carboxymethyl cellulose samples with an increasing degree of substitution. In contrast, reagents containing hydroxyl groups had virtually no depressing effect on talc. The data obtained support the use of domestic industrial samples of carboxymethyl cellulose, namely CMC 7N and PAC-N, as depressants for floating silicates, particularly talc, which is a detrimental impurity in the concentrate.