What is the flotation recovery rate of antimony ore?

The flotation recovery rate of antimony ore depends on several factors, such as the mineralogy of the ore, the type of collector used, and the operating conditions of the flotation process. Antimony is a brittle, silvery-white, semi-metallic element that is used in a variety of industrial applications, including the production of batteries, flame retardants, and semiconductors.

Antimony ore usually contains stibnite (Sb2S3) as the main mineral, along with other sulfide minerals such as pyrite, arsenopyrite, and galena. Flotation is the most commonly used method for the beneficiation of antimony ores, which involves the use of chemical reagents to selectively separate the valuable mineral from the gangue.

The flotation recovery rate of antimony ore varies widely depending on the mineralogy of the ore and the type of collector used. The collector is a chemical substance that selectively binds to the surface of the mineral, making it hydrophobic and allowing it to attach to air bubbles in the flotation cell. Different types of collectors have different selectivity towards antimony minerals, which can affect the recovery rate.

The operating conditions of the flotation process, such as the pH, temperature, and agitation speed, also play an important role in the flotation recovery rate of antimony ore. For example, an increase in pH can lead to a decrease in the recovery rate of antimony ore, as the collector becomes less effective at higher pH values.

In general, the flotation recovery rate of antimony ore can range from 60% to 90%, depending on the mineralogy of the ore and the operating conditions of the flotation process. However, it is important to note that achieving a high recovery rate may require the use of multiple stages of flotation, as well as optimization of the flotation conditions.

In addition, it is important to consider the economic viability of the recovery process, as the cost of the chemical reagents used in flotation can be significant. Therefore, it is important to optimize the flotation process to achieve both a high recovery rate and a low cost of production.