Effect of pH on Copper Flotation Recovery VS Mass Pull

An example of testing the effect of pH on rougher flotation on pit samples and the results are presented.  Since this is only an example, it needs reminding that not all ores will respond the same.

Here, rougher flotation is most Selective at a pH of 9.5 as pH levels in the 9 to 10 range yielded 1% to 2% better recoveries. Mineralogy data also supports this and shows between 3% and 10% of the copper is present as low-grade middlings in pyrite, and further supports the benefit of floating middlings pyrite to maximize copper rougher recovery. This is also facilitated by the use of a more selective thionocarbamate collector. There was no significant pH effect on gold recovery.

Effect of pH on Copper Recovery Mass Pull

AN INVESTIGATION OF COPPER RECOVERY FROM A SULPHIDE OXIDE ORE WITH A MIXED COLLECTOR SYSTEM

Optimization of Electrochemical Copper Recovery Process Effect of the Rotation Speed in Chloride Medium of pH 3

Copper and Cyanide Recovery in Cyanidation Effluents

Effect of pH on the Recovery and Grade of Base metal flotation