On the possibility to process copper-molybdenum ore using a combined flotation reagent

The article presents the results of laboratory studies on ore flotation of copper-molybdenum deposits in the East Kazakhstan region of Kazakhstan using a combined reagent. It is required to use new beneficiation methods and flotation reagents to increase the efficiency of flotation of ore minerals to improve the processing of finely disseminated ores. The problem can be solved by using a combination of different collectors. The objective of the research is to increase the recovery of copper and molybdenum during flotation of copper-molybdenum ore using a combined reagent. The studied ore sample contains 0.42% copper; 0.009% molybdenum. A combination of sodium butyl xanthate, TS-100 thionocarbamate, and reaflot in a ratio, in %: 15: 3: 1, was used as a combined flotation reagent. The combined flotation reagent was preliminarily passed through an ultrasonic homogenizer JY96-IIN to obtain a reagent microemulsion before flotation. The optimum dispersion time for the combined flotation reagent is 60 seconds. At the same time, 99.4% are microemulsion particles with a particle size of fewer than 3.7 microns. The use of a combined reagent microemulsion increases the extraction of copper into the copper-molybdenum concentrate by 3.69%, and the extraction of molybdenum by 6.05%. The copper content in the copper-molybdenum concentrate increases by 1.26%. The copper content in the flotation tailings decreases from 0.07 to 0.056%. The consumption of the combined reagent is reduced by 15% in comparison with the basic butyl xanthate.