COPPER-ZINC CONCENTRATE SEPARATION PROCESS Russian patent published in 1999 - IPC

FIELD: mining industry. SUBSTANCE: invention relates to flotation concentration of nonferrous metal ores, in particular, to selective flotation of polymetallic sulfide ores and products, for example, copper-zinc ones. In separation process including flotation, conditioning operation involves utilization of depressor for zinc minerals, particularly decopperized zinc sulfate solution prepared by bacterial leaching of copper-zinc-pyrite product containing 10-17% zinc, 0.5-1.4% copper, and 40-50% sulfur in sulfuric acid medium with bacteria species Thiobacillus Ferrooxidans at concentration 10¹¹ cells in 1 ml and solids-to-liquid ratio 1:5. Solution contains, g/l: zinc, 14-21; copper, 0.1-0.7; and iron, 6.5-8.5 (including ferrous iron 3.5-4.5 and ferric iron 3.0-4.0). Increase in depression of zinc minerals is observed as compared to process involving utilization of sodium sulfide-pure zinc sulfate mixture. EFFECT: reduced loss of zinc in copper concentrate and increased recovery of zinc into zinc concentrate. 2 tbl, 3 ex