Effect of Inorganic Regulators Adding Order on Flotation of Copper, Lead & Zinc Sulfide Minerals with Z-200 as Collector.

The effect of adding orders of inorganic regulators such as zinc sulfate, copper sulfate, sodium sulfite and sodium sulfide on the flotation of chalcopyrite, galena, and sphalerite was studied under the Z-200 collector system. The results of microflotation tests showed that compared with adding inorganic regulator before the Z-200, when the inorganic regulator was added after the Z-200, there were differences in the effect on the flotation of the three kinds of sulfide minerals: the depressing effect of zinc sulfate on chalcopyrite, especially galena, was significantly weakened, and the depressing effect of zinc sulfate on sphalerite was weakened at lower dosage, but stronger at higher dosage. Copper sulfate slightly enhanced the depressing effect on chalcopyrite, had a strong activation effect on galena, especially at lower dosage, the activation effect of copper sulfate on sphalerite was significantly enhanced at lower dosage, and was weakened at higher dosage. Sodium sulfite weakened its depressing effect on chalcopyrite, especially galena, and enhanced the depressing effect on sphalerite. Sodium sulfide weakened its depressing effect on chalcopyrite, had a similar activation effect on galena at lower dosage, while its depressing effect was enhanced at higher dosage, and enhanced its depressing effect on sphalerite at low dosage. The research results can provide reference for the selection and the adding sequence of inorganic regulators in the flotation separation of sulfide ores under the Z-200 collector system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]