Optimization of the floatation Process on a copper-zinc-tin ore and its effect on tin gravity concentration

According to the situation that current floatation process failed to synthetically recover associated metals, the optimization study of floatation process was conducted. Based on process mineralogy analysis, combined with the situation that the exceeding standard of sulfur and arsenic in floatation tailings may result in the excessive harmful impurities in tin concentrate, a new technological process which includes magnetic separation for deironing, Cu differential flotation, zinc-sulfur-arsenic mixed floatation and finally, zinc-sulfur arsenic separation is proposed.. Besides, the study further optimized the grind fineness and reagents rules in the beneficiation process. While the raw ores have 0.06% of Cu and 0.36% of Zn, the copper concentrate containing 16.37% Cu and 7.92%Zn with the recovery rate of Cu of 68.302% and zinc concentrate containing 44.44% Zn with the recovery of Zn of 76.368% were obtained after the optimized process, acquired which realized the recovery of low-grade associated metals. Moreover, the sulfur and arsenic removing efficiency of the optimized floatation processis better, , which is conducive to next-step improvement of cassiterite gravity efficiency.