The effect of temperature on sulphide flotation

浮选可能是在采矿和矿物加工、废水处理和回收中使用最广泛的分离技术，仅举三个例子。 其原理是基于悬浮液中的疏水颗粒选择性地附着到气泡上，然后气泡上升到表面并在溢出的泡沫中被去除，最常见的是浓缩物;亲水材料保持悬浮液中，并且该（尾矿）部分被泵出细胞朝向底部。 在矿物加工中，这种技术可以分离化学性质相似的矿物，否则加工这些矿物是不经济的。 浮选的重要性被杰里米·穆阿特（Jeremy Mouat）指出，他说这“可能是现代最伟大的冶金进步”。 考虑到它对全球经济的重要性，以及我们许多人认为理所当然的金属生产，浮选仍有许多方面是未知的，需要进一步研究。 在加拿大这样的国家尤其如此，除了矿石的变化外，季节性波动可能导致环境温度从-10 °C（或更低）到>30 °C。 了解温度对浮选的影响至关重要，因为根据欧盟的一份报告，包括锌在内的金属具有最高的经济重要性。 Trevali Mining Corporation是一家总部位于哥伦比亚的矿业公司，是全球十大锌生产商之一，在过去五年中每年都增加锌产量。 目前，他们的Caribou矿和加工厂的锌回收率出现季节性波动，这对加工经济产生了重大负面影响。 本研究项目将调查温度对硫化物浮选的影响，重点是在该存款中发现的矿物。

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.