EFFECT OF ELECTROCHEMICAL CONTROL OF ABRASION PROCESS OF SULPHIDE-CONTAINING ORES AT PREPARING THEM FOR FLOTATION

Abstract

It is now evident that electrochemical processes play an important role in the management of interactions between collectors and surfaces of sulphide minerals. However, the application of control of electrochemical parameters of technological processes in the mining industry is not very common due to practical problems related to the working conditions of relevant equipment and, most importantly, to the lack of reliable methods of interpreting the obtained data of measurement of electrochemical parameters from the standpoint of their impact on technological parameters. Metal sulphides are usually semiconductors and cause electrochemical reactions in aquatic environments. This phenomenon plays an important role in sulphide flotation. Pyrite as the most common sulphide mineral is often associated with valuable sulphide minerals, such as coal and gold. It is very important to study its electrochemical behavior both during flotation and at the stage of preparation of the pulp. This review focuses on the study of electrochemical processes occurring on the surface of sulphide minerals during the abrasion of flotation material. The authors have investigated the mechanism of material preparation by abrasion in planetary mills by various abrasion materials (agate, stainless steel). Various factors such as pH, percentage of solid in pulp, particle size distribution, flotation time, type and concentration of reagents and oxygen content, as well as grinding conditions can influence on the intensity of these electrochemical interactions. It was found that moderately reducing conditions of the medium are favorable for flotation of pyrite and halcopyrite even without any collector, while oxidizing potentials lead to depression. It is proposed to carry out further research using advanced chemical analysis techniques to understand the electrochemical processes in the flotation system.