A study on floatability of copper using Modified Hallimond Tube

Abstract

The Floatability of copper on the Modified Hallimond tube depend on lots of parameters such as dosage and types of collector, frother, air flow rate, flotation time, and pH value. All of this parameters give different effect on floatability. Collectors used for this study are 2- Mercaptobenzothiazole and Potassium n-Amyl Xanthate while frothers used are Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol and Propylene Glycol. pH of the mixture is varied using common pH modifier which is lime (CaO). The effects of air flow rate and flotation time were also studied. Overall, the result suggests that 2-Mercaptobenzothiazole (collector) is better than Potassium n-Amyl Xanthate at pH 10. Xanthate is very good recovering at pH 11-13 depends on kind of frother. As the dosage of the both collector increase, the percentage recovery of Cu also increase. Methyl Isobutyl Carbinol, (MIBC) is more effective than Propylene glycol as frother though the frother is not necessary in hallimond tube floatability test. As well, increasing in flotation time and air flow rate also will increase the percentage of recovery .Although the result showed copper recovery can be achieved on the Hallimond tube flotation, further test with different parameter have to be carried out to achieve the better result with lower cost and time.This test makes possible to get a better indication of how trends will be translated to a larger scale.