Rougher flotation of copper sulphide ore using biosolids and humic acids

In the quest of new, less hazardous, and more ambient-friendly froth flotation reagents, the use of biosolids or humic acids as both collector and frother for the concentration of copper sulphide ores was investigated. Rougher flotation tests were conducted in Denver cells on a laboratory scale, and metallurgical indicators such as copper recovery, copper concentrate grade, and concentration and enrichment ratios were compared with those obtained under similar conditions but using conventional collectors and frothers for the industrial flotation of copper sulphide ores. With a dosage of 10% (w/w) biosolids, copper recovery and grade were 26% and 0.81%, respectively. The copper recovery and grade obtained with 1.5% (w/w) salt of humic acids were 29.7% and 3.5%, respectively. A significantly higher copper recovery (65.1%) was obtained with conventional industrial collectors and frothers, but the grade was also low (3.1% Cu). With the same dosage of humic substances, humic acid show that the flotation rate constant was significantly higher (0.2 min−1) than that obtained with the same dosage of biosolids (0.09 min−1). These results indicate that humic acids have more affinity than biosolids for copper-containing mineral species, and also show that biosolids and humic acids could be used as both collector and frother in the sulphide mineral concentration process by froth flotation. Because the distribution of iron in the concentrate obtained with biosolids is highest, these materials seem to have more affinity for pyrite.

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► Biosolids and humic acids may be used as flotation reagents of copper sulphide ores.
► We determine indicators such as copper recovery and copper concentrate grade.
► Humic acids and industrial flotation reagents show similar copper grade and kinetic.
► Humic acids have more affinity than biosolids for copper-containing mineral species.
► Biosolids and humic acids have potential to substitute industrial flotation reagents.