Abstract
Silver contained in zinc calcines undergoes several phase changes as it proceeds through the leaching circuit of a roast-leach-electrowin zinc plant. In this study, the flotation response of silver from leach residues prepared under a variety of carefully controlled operating conditions in the pilot plant has been examined.
Flotation of neutral leach residue is shown to be technically viable and to merit consideration for those plants without a high-acid leach circuit, but having significant silver values in the feed. Residue leach conditions must be kept slightly acidic to promote the formation of Ag2S, (AgCu)2S and Ag2S rims on residual unroasted sphalerite, while simultaneously avoiding the hydrolysis of soluble iron, which depresses silver recovery and grade.
Factors to be considered during integration of a flotation process into an electrolytic zinc plant are discussed.
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References
Chen, T.T., and Dutrizac, J.E., 1988, “Mineralogical Characterization of Silver Flotation Concentrate made from Zinc Neutral Leach Residues,” Metallurgical Transactions 19B, 803–817.
Noranda Inc., 1984, Development of a Flotation Process for the Recovery of Silver from Zinc Leach Residues, CANMET, Energy, Mines and Resources of Canada, Ottawa, Contract 26SQ.23440-4-9078.
Noranda Inc., 1988, Recovery of Silver from Zinc Plant Residues-Phase 11, CANMET, Energy, Mines and Resources of Canada, Ottawa, Contract 03SQ.23440-5-9045.
Rodier, D.D., 1981, “Zinc Hydrometallurgical Solid-Liquid Separation Practice at Canadian Electrolytic Zinc Limited,” Solid-Liquid Separation, Proceedings of the 11th Annual Hydrometallurgical Meeting, Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy, Oct. 18–21.
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SME preprint 90-178, SME Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, UT, Feb. 26–March 1, 1990.
M&MP paper 90-640. Discussion of this paper must be submitted, in duplicate, prior to June 1, 1991.
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Kim, J.Y., Rosato, L. & Stanley, R.W. Silver recovery from zinc plant residues by flotation. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 8, 43–47 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402930
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402930