Mineral processing includes three processes: washing, crushing, and beneficiation. During the process of concentrating valuable metals from low-grade, polymetallic ores into higher-grade concentrates, various types of collectors, frothers, inhibitors, and flocculants must be added. Most of these are toxic and harmful substances, such as cyanides, arsenides, chromates, various alkyl xanthates, substituted phenols, anilines, pyridines, hydrocarbons, alkenes, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, esters, and so on. These substances can enter the environment through the discharge of mineral processing wastewater or through tailings ponds, leading to secondary pollution and causing serious harm to the ecological environment. Mineral processing reagents mainly refer to collectors, frothers, inhibitors, flocculants, modifiers, as well as extracting agents, extractant matrix improvers, and diluents used in hydrometallurgy, involving hundreds of various inorganic or organic synthetic compounds.
What Are the Most Important Reagents in Mineral Processing?
Among the 68 pollutants on China's priority control pollutant blacklist, 24 mineral processing reagents are included (including arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, mercury, nickel, thallium, copper, lead, and their compounds). Chemical agents harmful to the environment include cyanides, hydrogen sulfide, phosphine, fluorides, arsenides, chromates, copper sulfate, zinc sulfate, carbon disulfide, sulfites, various alkyl xanthates, organophosphorus compounds, fatty alcohols, anilines, pyridines, hydrocarbons, alkenes, ethers, ketones, aldehydes, esters, and hundreds of other substances. We have selected 20 of the most important reagents for your reference. Let’s take a look!
Sodium Ethyl Xanthate
Molecular Formula: C2H5OCSSNa
Properties: A light yellow powder (or granule) with an irritating odor, soluble in water, alcohol, etc., capable of forming insoluble compounds with metal ions like cobalt, copper, and nickel.
Main Uses: Sodium ethyl xanthate is a collector with good selectivity among the xanthate series products. It can be widely used for the preferential flotation of easily floatable or complex sulfide ores of non-ferrous metals. It can also be used in conjunction with sulfide agents for the flotation of copper and lead oxide ores. It is also used as a precipitation agent in hydrometallurgy (e.g., purification of zinc electrolyte) and as a vulcanization accelerator in rubber.
Sodium Isopropyl Xanthate
Molecular Formula: (CH3)2CHOCSSNa
Properties: A light yellow powder (or granule) with an irritating odor, soluble in water.
Main Uses: Sodium isopropyl xanthate has a slightly stronger collection ability in the flotation of sulfide ores of non-ferrous metals than sodium ethyl xanthate. It is mainly used as a collector for various non-ferrous metal sulfide ores and can also serve as a precipitation agent in hydrometallurgy; it is also used as a vulcanization accelerator in rubber.
Sodium Butyl Xanthate (Potassium)
Molecular Formula: C4H9OCSSNa(K)
Properties: A light yellow or gray-white powder (or granule) with an irritating odor, soluble in water and alcohol, capable of forming insoluble compounds with various metal ions.
Main Uses: Sodium butyl xanthate (potassium) is a collector with strong flotation capabilities and is widely used in mixed flotation of various non-ferrous metal sulfide ores. This reagent is particularly suitable for the flotation of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and pyrite. Under specific conditions, it can also be used for the preferential flotation of sulfide copper ores from iron sulfide ores.
Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate (Potassium)
Molecular Formula: (CH3)2CHCH2OCSSNa(K)
Properties: A light yellow powder (or granule) with an irritating odor, easily soluble in water, capable of forming insoluble compounds with various metal ions.
Main Uses: Sodium isobutyl xanthate (potassium) is also a strong collector in the flotation of various non-ferrous metal sulfide ores. It is mainly used for the flotation of copper, lead, and zinc sulfide ores, and has shown effectiveness in naturally floating various copper ores and pyrite.
Sodium Isopentyl Xanthate
Molecular Formula: (CH3)2CHCH2CH2OCSSNa
Properties: A yellow powder with an irritating odor, soluble in water.
Main Uses: Sodium isopentyl xanthate is a strong collector mainly used in the flotation of non-ferrous metal ores that require strong collection power but not selectivity. For example, it is an excellent collector for oxidized sulfide ores or oxidized copper and lead ores (after sulfiding with sodium sulfide or sodium hydrosulfide). This reagent can also achieve good separation in the flotation of copper-nickel sulfide ores and gold-containing pyrite.
Sodium Pentyl Xanthate (Potassium)
Molecular Formula: C5H11OCSSNa(K)
Properties: A light yellow or gray-white powder (or granule) with an irritating odor, soluble in water.
Main Uses: Sodium pentyl xanthate (potassium) is a strong collector mainly applied in the flotation of non-ferrous metal ores that require strong collection power but not selectivity. For instance, it serves as an excellent collector for oxidized sulfide ores or oxidized copper and lead ores (after sulfiding with sodium sulfide or sodium hydrosulfide). It can also achieve good separation in the flotation of copper-nickel sulfide ores and gold-containing pyrite.
No. 25 Black Drug
Main Component: Dimethylphenol Disulfide
Molecular Formula: (C7H7O)2PSSH
Properties: A brownish-black oily liquid with an irritating odor and corrosiveness; flammable, slightly soluble in water.
Main Uses: No. 25 black drug has both collecting and foaming properties. It is an effective collector for the sulfide ores of lead, copper, and silver, often used in the preferential flotation separation of lead and zinc. This reagent has a weak collecting ability for pyrite and other sulfide ores in alkaline circuits, but it is a strong non-selective collector for all sulfide ores in neutral or acidic media. Under specific conditions, it also has a certain collecting ability for heavy metal oxide ores. Since this reagent is only slightly soluble in water, it must be added in its original form to the conditioning tank or ball mill.
Sodium Butyl Black Drug
Main Component: Dibutyl Disulfide Sodium
Molecular Formula: (C4H9O)2PSSNa
Properties: A yellowish-brown aqueous solution with no irritating odor and relatively stable chemical properties.
Main Uses: Sodium butyl black drug is an effective collector for gold ores and the sulfide ores of silver, copper, and zinc. It has a weak collecting ability for pyrite in alkaline circuits. This reagent exhibits only very weak foaming properties.
Sodium No. 25 Black Drug
Main Component: Dimethylphenol Disulfide Sodium
Molecular Formula: (C7H7O)2PSSNa
Properties: A deep brown or black aqueous solution, odorless.
Main Uses: Sodium No. 25 black drug is an effective collector for copper and lead sulfide ores. Due to its weak collecting ability for zinc sulfide ores, it is often used for the preferential separation flotation of copper and lead sulfide ores from zinc sulfide ores. This reagent can be directly added to the flotation circuit.
Ammonium Butyl Black Drug
Main Component: Dibutyl Disulfide Ammonium
Molecular Formula: (C4H9O)2PSSNH4
Properties: A white to grayish-white powder with no taste, deliquescent in air, soluble in water, and chemically stable.
Main Uses: Ammonium butyl black drug is an excellent collector and frother for non-ferrous metal ores. It has a special separation ability for sulfide ores of copper, lead, silver, and zinc, as well as complex polymetallic ores. It has weak collecting performance for pyrite and magnetic pyrite in weakly alkaline pulp but a strong collecting ability for galena. It can also be used in the flotation of nickel and antimony sulfide ores, especially effective for difficult-to-select nickel sulfide ores, mixed sulfide-oxidized nickel ores, and middlings of sulfide ores and gangue. Research shows that using ammonium butyl black drug is beneficial for the recovery of platinum, gold, and silver.
Ethylthioamine (SN-9#)
Main Component: N,N-Diethyl Dithiocarbamate Sodium
Molecular Formula: (C2H5)2NCSSNa·3H2O
Properties: A white to grayish-white crystal with no irritating odor, easily soluble in water. This reagent decomposes into carbon disulfide, diethylamine, etc., in the presence
of heat or acid.
Main Uses: Ethylthioamine (SN-9#) is primarily used as a collector for various non-ferrous metal ores. It shows strong collecting ability for copper, lead, zinc, and nickel sulfide ores. This reagent is particularly effective in the flotation of complex ores and has been widely adopted in the mineral processing industry. Additionally, it can help improve the recovery rates of metals in flotation processes.
Flotation Frothers
Frothers play a crucial role in mineral processing by facilitating the formation of stable froths that allow for the selective separation of valuable minerals. Common flotation frothers include:
Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol (MIBC)
Properties: A colorless, flammable liquid with a characteristic odor, insoluble in water.
Main Uses: MIBC is widely used as a frother in the flotation of various ores, including copper, gold, and nickel. It enhances froth stability, improving the recovery rates of desired minerals.
Propylene Glycol Monomethyl Ether
Properties: A colorless liquid with a mild odor, soluble in water and organic solvents.
Main Uses: This frother is effective in enhancing the frothing properties of flotation processes, particularly for sulfide ores. It helps create a stable froth that allows for better separation of valuable minerals.
Polyglycol Ether
Properties: A viscous liquid that is soluble in water and has low toxicity.
Main Uses: Polyglycol ether serves as a frother and can enhance the flotation efficiency of various minerals, especially in the flotation of fine and ultrafine particles.
Inhibitors
Inhibitors are chemical agents that selectively inhibit the flotation of specific minerals. They are crucial for controlling the selectivity and efficiency of flotation processes. Common inhibitors include:
Sodium Cyanide
Properties: A white crystalline solid, highly soluble in water, and highly toxic.
Main Uses: Sodium cyanide is primarily used to depress unwanted minerals during flotation, allowing for the selective recovery of valuable metals, especially gold and silver. It is widely used in gold processing, particularly in the cyanidation process.
Sodium Sulfide
Properties: A white to yellowish solid, soluble in water, with a pungent odor.
Main Uses: Sodium sulfide is often used to activate certain metal ions and depress others in the flotation process. It is particularly effective in the flotation of oxidized ores, such as those containing copper and lead.
Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC)
Properties: A white powder that is soluble in water, non-toxic, and biodegradable.
Main Uses: CMC is an effective polymeric inhibitor used in the flotation of various minerals. It helps to control the selectivity of the flotation process by inhibiting the flotation of certain gangue minerals.
Flocculants
Flocculants are used to enhance the settling and dewatering of minerals and tailings. Common flocculants include:
Polyacrylamide
Properties: A white to yellowish powder that is highly soluble in water, non-toxic.
Main Uses: Polyacrylamide is widely used as a flocculant in mineral processing to improve the settling rates of slurries and enhance the dewatering of tailings.
Aluminum Sulfate
Properties: A white crystalline solid that is soluble in water.
Main Uses: Aluminum sulfate is often used as a coagulant and flocculant in mineral processing to aid in the clarification and thickening of slurries.
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