Oh-Hyung Han

Recovery of Roasting-Molybdenite Concentrate by Froth Flotation

Froth flotation has been carried out in order to produce roasting-molybdenite concentrate from molybdenite ore in the Shin-yeomi mine. In our study, roasting-molybdenite (Mo 0.43%) from Shin-yeomi mine was recovered by varying the conditions of regrinding time, dosage of collector and alkalinity. Liberation and flotation efficiency more were effective at regrinding time of six minutes than at single grinding. Mo recovery curves increased considerably as dosage of kerosene increased, whereas Mo grade curves decreased gradually. The separation efficiency of molybdenite was effective when the dosage of collector (kerosene) was adjusted to 300 g/t. The molybdenite concentrate was agglomerated in the range of pH 5-7 and its separation efficiency increased to pH 9-10. The concentrate of 49.5% Mo grade (MoS2, 82.6%) with 81.5% recovery from Shin-yeomi molybdenite ores was obtained under conditions of 20% pulp concentration, 300 g/t kerosene 325 g/t frother (AF65), 2.5 kg/t depressant (Na2SiO3), pH 9-10 and four cleaning times. In the future, a trial run that can separate up to 50% Mo grade from Shin-yeomi molybdenite ores will be performed.