Flotation tests of the new complex collecting agent for antimony oxide forms: a case study of the antimony ore sample from the Zhipkhosha deposit

Abstract

The purpose of the work is to study a new collecting agent for antimony oxide forms in order to reduce metal loss with the tails. The main methods for processing antimony ores are gravity and flotation beneficiation. The major amount of antimony extracted through the enrichment of various types of antimony ores is due to the presence of the metal sulfide form (antimonite). Antimony loss, in turn, is associated with oxide minerals (stibnite, valentinite, kermzite) that are present in the form of films, lenses or flakes. The only known method for extracting antimony oxides from the ores of various deposits is flotation concentration. So far, for the enterprises processing antimony ores, there are no developed schemes or regimes of flotation concentration that would allow obtaining conditioned (or close to conditioned) concentrates from oxide antimony forms. To extract antimony oxide minerals, fatty-acid collectors of the cationic type, carbon hydrogen, petroleum oils and shale resin are used. As a result of the research, a new complex collecting agent KС_Sb, consisting of wood-chemical products and a derivative of aspartic acid, has been selected as an effective antimony collector. A method of oxidized antimony ore flotation using a new collector reagent KС_Sb has been developed. The method increases the technological and economic indexes of the flotation process.