ABSTRACT
For a long time, in the traditional method for the operation of copper-sulfur separation, whether nonferrous metal mines or ferrous metal mines, a lots of lime is added in the separating to raise pH of pulp over 12, depress S and float Cu in high alkaline metallurgy performances (Hu 1987). Though this method is effective, it is obvious that it can bring about a few drawback for using a vast amount lime – firstly, adding lots of lime makes the viscosity of floatation froth enhance and impurity increase, as well as influences copper concentrate grade. Secondly, because of in high alkaline performances, there is calcification in the pipelines, and equipments are corrupted easily as well as the pollution of the environment is very serious. Finally, the major drawback is that the accompanying components, such as Au, Ag, Mo, Co, are strongly depressed under the high alkaline conditions, which greatly influences utilization rate of mineral resource. In order to solve the drawback of the Cu-S separation technology in high alkaline performances, we have made many tests and industrial experiments about copper-sulfur separation technology without lime, and obtained the satisfactory result in the recent years (Zhou 1998).
