The effect of temperature on sulphide flotation

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Flotation is possibly the most widely utilised separation technique used in mining and mineral processing, waste water treatment, and recycling to name but three examples. The principle is based on hydrophobic particles in a suspension selectively attaching to air bubbles, which then rise to the surface and are removed in an overflowing froth, most commonly being the concentrate; the hydrophilic material remains in suspension and this (tailings) fraction is pumped out of the cell towards the bottom.In mineral processing, this technique has allowed for the separation of chemically similar minerals, which otherwise would not be economical to process. The importance of flotation was noted by Jeremy Mouat, who states that it is "perhaps the greatest single metallurgical improvement of the modern era". Considering its importance to the global economy, and the production of metals that many of us take for granted, there are still many aspects of flotation that are unknown, requiring further research. This is especially true in a country such as Canada where, in addition to ore variability, seasonal fluctuations may lead to the ambient temperature ranging from -10 °C (or colder) to >30 °C. Understanding the impact of temperature on flotation is of vital importance, as metals including zinc have been reported to be of the highest economic importance by a report produced by the European Union.Trevali Mining Corporation is a Canadian-based mining company, one of the top 10 global zinc producers, which has increased its zinc production annually for the past five years. They currently experience seasonal fluctuations in zinc recovery at their Caribou mine and process plant, which has a significant negative impact on the process economics. This research project will investigate the impact of temperature on sulphide flotation, focussing on the minerals found in this deposit.