Study on the New Combined Technology of Tungsten Dressing and Metallurgy and its Economic Feasibility Analysis

Abstract

Based on the existing problems in the tungsten beneficiation of Shizhuyuan polymetallic ore, we present a new combined technology of “iron removal by magnetic separation—desliming by flotation—scheelite and wolframite bulk flotation—high alkali autoclave leaching of tungsten rough concentrate” to increase the comprehensive utilization of tungsten resource. The results show that the tungsten flotation operation obtains the better indexes than the original process at the same point, and the WO3 recovery increases to 73% when the WO3 grade of rough concentrate is 30%. In hydrometallurgical operation, the leaching rate of WO3 is above 94%, decomposing tungsten mineralsa effectively and realizing the recycle of sodium hydroxide in the high alkali tungsten solution. The economic feasibility analysis point out this technology is recommended to be adopted when the WO3 grade of bulk concentrate is 30%, and the economic benefit of the new technology will reach the break-even point when the price of metallurgical products WO3 reaches 95,000 RMB/t.