Carlos Adolpho Magalhães Baltar

Comparative study of the main flotation frothers using a new HYDROMESS adapted technique

Stability of bubble size in the pulp zone and froth control is an important parameter for a successful flotation process. The present study compares the action of the main frothers in terms of: mean bubble size in the pulp zone, froth stability, surface-tension-lowering ability and reagent participation in flotation of a naturally hydrophobic mineral. Bubble size was determined using a new technique adapted from HYDROMESS, a device designed to measure drop size. The remaining indicators were obtained by determining surface tension and conducting flotation tests with the addition of hydrophobic (graphite) and hydrophilic (calcite) particles. The results indicate that methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) is the most efficient frother in controlling coalescence, with critical coalescence concentration (CCC) reached at 20 ppm. Moreover, this frother has greater potential for selective action, since it increased calcite entrainment by only 2.3% at a concentration of 30 ppm. In flotation tests with a sample of graphite, MIBC produced higher recoveries.

Lead recovery by flotation with sodium lauryl sulfate

Lead recoverable slag is of economic and environmental importance. The aim of this study was to assess the possibilities of its recovery by flotation with sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). The similar nature of the lead and iron particles formed by solidification of the melted slag impairs selectivity during the flotation process. In order to verify the most favorable conditions for selectivity, SLS adsorption mechanisms for lead and iron particles were studied. The adsorption was monitored by means of zeta potential and surface tension determinations. Flotation tests were conducted under the most promising conditions identified for selectivity. The results suggest that SLS adsorption in lead particles is of a chemical nature. It was observed that the formation of lead lauryl sulfate is easier in alkaline medium. A 79% lead recovery was obtained at pH 10 using only 10-3 M collector concentration. Nevertheless, the best selectivity conditions were obtained in an acid medium.

Efeito da dispersão em polpas de minérios itabiríticos

The reverse flotation of iron ores is preceded by a desliming stage whose ef ficiency increases with the use of reagents that promote the dispersion of the pulp. The present study addressed the influence of the type and of the concentration of the dispersant on the dispersion efficiency and on the flotation results. The results were

SEM study of a lead-iron slag flotation process

Companies producing lead-acid batteries are required by law to recycle their battery scrap. The recycling can be performed by a pyrometallurgical process resulting in slags containing mainly lead and iron. A study was carried out with the aim of recovering the lead contained in this slag. This work has economic and environmental implications. Slag characterization was performed by X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). A laboratory-scale mechanical cell was used for flotation tests. The results showed that Pb-Fe selectivity is possible using ethyl xanthate as collector. The coke floats together decreasing concentrate grade. However, this is no problem because coke participates in the metallurgical process for the production of lead. A concentrate containing 22.9% Pb was obtained from a slag with 2.2% Pb. The process removes more than 99.6% of the iron contained. However, the recovery was only 19.0 %. Analyses from scanning electron microscopy detected the presence of lead inside the iron particles, limiting the possibility of lead recovery.

Iron removal by precipitate flotation

The water from several artesian wells in the metropolitan area of Recife presents high iron content, preventing its use in some industrial processes. The possibility of removing the iron by the use of precipitate flotation using sodium dodecyl sulphate (SDS) as collector was studied. The tests were carried out in a glass column 65 cm high, fed by a constant airflow. At pH 8, where the isoelectric point of colloidal iron hydroxide [Fe(OH) 3 ] was observed, the size of the precipitate increases with conditioning time and facilitates the removal of iron ions by flotation. The results showed that an increase in conditioning time, from 5 to 20 minutes, resulted in a reduction of the residual concentration of iron from 13.2 to 0.2 ppm. The decrease in precipitate specific surface area rendered a decrease in the collector consumption possible. The iron ion removal process by flotation using SDS as collector was shown to be quite efficient. A removal of 99% of Fe 3+ contained in the original solution was obtained.