Effect of pre-agglomeration on the flotation of fine-sized gold particles in the presence of vegetable oils

KILINÇ AKSAY E., AKAR A.

ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES, cilt.10, sa.15, 2017 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 10 Sayı: 15
  • Basım Tarihi: 2017
  • Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s12517-017-3113-y
  • Dergi Adı: ARABIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: Fine-sized gold particles, Pre-agglomeration stage, Flotation, Epithermal deposit, Vegetable oils, RECOVERY
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

In this study, the effect of pre-agglomeration on the flotation of fine-sized gold ore containing 11.3 g/t Au was investigated using olive and soybean oils. Firstly, the ore was floated using only collectors. Secondly, the ore was floated in the presence of vegetable oils and collectors. Finally, the effect of pre-agglomeration with graphite particles was tested again in the presence of two vegetable oils and collectors. In the first case, 93.8% gold recovery with 28.0 g/t Au grade was achieved. The gold recovery decreased to 79.8% with increased gold grade of 46.0 g/t Au when olive oil was used in flotation. Finally, the gold recovery decreased to 75.2% with an increased gold grade of 51.5 g/t when pre-agglomeration step was applied with the use of olive oil. Under the same flotation conditions, pre-agglomeration stage reduced the gold recovery but with increased gold grades.