Fundamental understanding of flotation of hexagonal pyrrhotite and millerite to improve the quality of ni-cu concentrates

镍是一种重要的金属，广泛应用于合金、电池、催化剂、硬币和电子设备等领域。具有经济价值的硫化镍矿物包括镍黄铁矿（(NiFe)9S8）和磨粒矿，它们与更丰富的磁黄铁矿（Fe8S9）有关。黄铜矿通常与硫化镍矿物有关，必须将其分离成含铜精矿，镍品位低，以促进有效的铜冶炼。磁黄铁矿与镍黄铁矿和千粒矿的选择性分离对经济效益和下游镍冶炼和精炼至关重要。必须控制精矿中的铁和硫含量，以减少冶炼过程中产生的二氧化硫量，避免对环境造成负面影响。采用磁选和低氧化还原电位浮选对单斜磁黄铁矿和镍黄铁矿进行了选择性分离。最近，来自萨德伯里盆地的矿石中含有较大比例的六方磁黄铁矿。这种磁黄铁矿比单斜型磁黄铁矿具有更强的浮选动力学，对传统的磁黄铁矿排斥技术没有反应。在这部分研究中，我们的目标是从根本上了解金属离子（如铜和镍）在控制电化学条件下，在二乙烯三胺（DETA）、糊精、木质素磺酸盐、硫代硫酸盐和石灰等抑制剂的存在下，对六方磁黄铁矿的活化或失活的作用。该项目的成功将加强加拿大在可持续发展方面的领导作用，并使加拿大保持在新技术开发的前沿，这不仅有利于我们的社会、经济，也有利于我们的环境。

Nickel is one of important metals widely used in alloy, battery, catalyst, coin, and electronic device, just to name a few. The nickel sulphide minerals of economic interest include pentlandite ((NiFe)9S8) and millerite, which are associated with a greater abundance of pyrrhotite (Fe8S9). Chalcopyrite is typically associated with nickel sulphide minerals that must be separated to a copper bearing concentrate with low nickel grades to facilitate efficient copper smelting.The selective separation of pyrrhotite from pentlandite and millerite is critically important for the economics and downstream nickel smelting and refining. The iron and sulphur levels in concentrate must be controlled to reduce the amount of Sulphur dioxide produced in smelting to avoid negative environmental impacts. The selective separation of monoclinic pyrrhotite from pentlandite has been effective by magnetic separation and low redox potential flotation. Recently, ores from the Sudbury Basin have contained a larger proportion of hexagonal pyrrhotite. This form of pyrrhotite has stronger flotation kinetics to that of the monoclinic variety and has not responded to the conventional pyrrhotite rejection techniques. Our objective in this part of research is to fundamentally understand the role of metal ions such as copper and nickel on the activation of hexagonal pyrrhotite or deactivation of hexagonal pyrrhotite in the presence of depressants such as diethylenetriamine (DETA), Dextrin, lignosulphonate, thiosulphate, and lime under controlled electrochemical conditions. The success of this project will strengthen Canada's leadership role in sustainable development and keep Canada in the forefront of new technology development that will not only benefit our society, our economy, but also our environment.