Organosolv Lignin Particles as a Partial Replacement of Xanthate Collector in a Copper Sulfide Ore Flotation: Scale-up Study

• The transition to a sustainable, green economy indeed requires more access to strategic/critical metals for renewable energy technologies while simultaneously reducing reliance on fossil fuels and their byproducts. In mineral processing, various research for an environment-friendly flotation reagents have been ongoing for many years. In this paper, the potential of organosolv lignin particles (OLP) as a biobased reagent that can improve the grade and recovery of Cu was demonstrated using real sulfide ore. The main advantage of this process is that it requires low dosage of OLP in the tested condition and set-up. The initial laboratory batch flotation tests showed that potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) can be partially replaced with OLP by 50% and in the absence of depressant, lime. These results were further verified in semi-pilot flotation tests that showed an increase in recovery by 8% in the rougher stage and comparable grade in the final cleaner stage when using the OLP-PAX mixture with respect to PAX at full dosage. In general, this paper presents the progress towards validating the viability of OLP as a biobased flotation reagent suitable for industrial-scale applications.

Ämnesord

TEKNIK OCH TEKNOLOGIER  -- Kemiteknik -- Kemiska processer (hsv//swe)

ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY  -- Chemical Engineering -- Chemical Process Engineering (hsv//eng)

Nyckelord

Organosolv Lignin

Nanoparticles

Froth Flotation

Sulfides

Chalcopyrite

Biokemisk processteknik

Biochemical Process Engineering

Publikations- och innehållstyp

vet (ämneskategori)

ovr (ämneskategori)