Process for sulphide concentration
US7314139B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 11, 2002 |
| Grant date | Jan 1, 2008 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 7, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC C)Chemistry; Metallurgy
- CPC primaryC22B23/005
- WIPO fieldChemical engineering
- WIPO sectorChemistry
Abstract
The present invention relates to a gravity/flotation circuit where a mineral stream, such as a flotation rougher or cleaner concentrate, undergoes a two stage size separation wherein: The middlings stream is subjected to flotation to recover nickel sulphide which is sent to final concentrate, and reject or depress magnesia which undergoes gravity separation to concentrate the MgO. It has been discovered that a large proportion of the MgO minerals in the concentrate are contained in the 30 to 100 micron size fraction and that they are well liberated making physical separation possible. Furthermore, the nickel sulphide minerals and magnesia minerals have a significantly different specific gravity which can be exploited using gravity separation equipment to achieve magnesia rejection.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.