Influence of Lead Nitrate on Sulfurizing Flotation of a Copper-Cobalt Oxide Ore

Abstract

Copper-cobalt oxide ores contain several minerals that are economically treatable by concentration techniques. The most used technique is froth flotation in which selective reagents are used to recover more valuables. It is, therefore, important to examine the optimal doses of those reagents while investigating the behaviors of minerals at the same time. This study explored the influence of lead nitrate Pb(NO3)2 on the froth flotation of oxide ore to increase valuable metals recoveries. Four factors were investigated including Pb(NO3)2 dosage, its conditioning, its addition dose in the 2nd fraction, and sulfidiser dosage. Other parameters were kept constant. The optimum was found at 25 g/t of Pb(NO3)2, conditioning together with sodium silicate (Na2SiO3) for 5 min, the addition of 5 g/t of Pb(NO3)2 in the 2nd fraction, and 3,000 g/t of sulfidiser. Recoveries in concentrates were 79.51 % Copper (Cu) and 60.27 % Cobalt (Co), with grades of 9.49 and 0.67 %, respectively. The conclusion was that the use of Pb(NO3)2 can considerably improve copper and cobalt recoveries.