Substitution of Zinc Sulphate with a Biodegradable Nontoxic Reagent

Mejía J.A.; Rey F. · IMPC 2024 - 31st IMPC-International Mineral Processing Congress (2024)

Resumen

Zinc sulfate, a depressant for zinc sulfides (sphalerite), is used in polymetallic flotation process to extract valuable metals such as copper, silver, and lead. This work focused on replacing zinc sulfate through the use of non-toxic biodegrable product, which not only led to the successful important reduction of traditional depressants, but also results in greater recovery rates of valuable metals such as those mentioned above. The product under study is called BRD-400, a biodegradable nontoxic formula which has a fantastic and adequate response as a depressant. The results of working with BRD indicates that this product can successfully replace zinc sulfate at a tenth of the normal dosage, promoting the descarbonization of any polimetallic operation. Furthermore, it was detected that the product BRD promotes water efficiency and reduces water contamination with its usage. The constant saturation of sulfate ions and zinc ions in the waters of the operation is mitigated quite rapidly since the product BRD replaces zinc sulfate and does not contain any of those elements on is productionm, which uses good quality non-toxic raw materials. This promotes a greater degree of reuse recycled water and has an important effect reducing the consumption of copper sulfate (between 20 and 40 percent) in the subsequent activation process of zinc sulfides. Copyright