Lead-zinc ore four-step beneficiation method

The four-step beneficiation method is a commonly used process for the separation of lead-zinc ore. The process consists of four stages: galena flotation, sphalerite flotation, pyrite flotation, and zinc oxide flotation. The process flow is as follows:

Galena flotation: The first stage involves the flotation of galena from the ore using a collector such as xanthate. The pH value is controlled to be around 8-9, and lime is added to regulate the pH value. The galena concentrate obtained from this stage usually contains a small amount of sphalerite and other impurities.

Sphalerite flotation: In the second stage, the sphalerite in the galena concentrate is floated using a collector such as thiol collectors. The pH value is controlled to be around 10-11, and copper sulfate is added as an activator to improve the flotation efficiency of sphalerite. The sphalerite concentrate obtained from this stage usually contains a small amount of galena and other impurities.

Pyrite flotation: The third stage involves the flotation of pyrite from the sphalerite concentrate using a collector such as xanthate. The pH value is controlled to be around 6-7, and lime is added to regulate the pH value. The pyrite concentrate obtained from this stage usually contains a small amount of sphalerite and other impurities.

Zinc oxide flotation: In the final stage, the zinc oxide in the pyrite concentrate is floated using a collector such as amine. The pH value is controlled to be around 9-10, and zinc sulfate is added as an activator to improve the flotation efficiency of zinc oxide. The zinc oxide concentrate obtained from this stage usually contains a small amount of pyrite and other impurities.

Advantages and disadvantages of the four-step beneficiation method:

Advantages:

The method is simple and easy to operate, and the process flow is relatively short.

The method has a high recovery rate and can effectively recover valuable metals from the ore.

The method has a wide range of adaptability and can be used for the beneficiation of various types of lead-zinc ore.

Disadvantages:

The method has a low selectivity, and it is difficult to obtain high-quality concentrates.

The method requires a large amount of reagents, which increases the cost of production.

The method is affected by the complexity of the ore composition, and the beneficiation effect may vary greatly for different ores.