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Technical
Note Cyanide elimination from lead-zinc
flotation Application
of cyanide in Lead-Zinc (Pb/Zn) flotation dates back from 1922 when Sheridan-Grisvold
process was introduced using the cyanide as depressant for the sphalerite and pyrite. The
cyanide was proven to be a very efficient depressant and it is still used extensively in
flotation. There is a patent on a series of SKIK reagents, which have a double effect in
the flotation process; as the grinding media corrosion inhibitors and as very selective
collectors for base metals. A new “Metoha Technology” has been developed based on
testing SKIK reagents with Pb/Zn ores. The “Metoha Technology” enables efficient
flotation of Pb/Zn minerals without any addition of NaCN for sphalerite and iron sulphides
depression. Detailed laboratory tests on the Pb/Zn ores from the “Sase” Mine in
Srebrenica, Republic of Srpska using the SKIK-BZ2000 reagent, show that due to its
introduction, the reagent regime was simplified and significantly cheaper. Upon its
introduction in the process, NaCN, ZnSO4, PEX and PAX in the total quantity of 450g/t were
completely eliminated and only 233g/t of the SKIK-BZ2000 reagent was used. The industrial
testing at the “Sase” Concentrator have confirmed the laboratory results. In the same
time, the grinding media consumption was reduced by 13%. Apart from obvious economic and
technological benefits, the “Metoha Technology” has solved the environmental problem
by elimination of the cyanide from the process. The precipitated cyanide in the tailing
dams is source of the underground water pollution and immense hazard for the environment
in the case of dam damage or collapse. The the SKIK reagents applied in the “Metoha
Technology” are also less toxic than the conventional collectors such as xanthate, and
ditiophosphate. |
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