Peculiarities of poly disperse particle interaction in gold micro dispersions flotation processes

Abstract

Introduction. In flotation of large particles, the approach of a particle to a bubble is provided by inertial forces, while in the case of small particles this process proceeds inertially. Inertia less hydrodynamic interaction with the bubble - movement with the liquid flow without contact with the surface of the bubble up to its lower hemisphere - is the main reason for losses of small particles in flotation. Materials and methods. Research was carried out on washing wastes of gold placers of the Petinikan-Bastakh group of deposits and on a sample of ore from the Natalka deposit. Results. It is shown that in a poly disperse system the aggregates are formed mainly from small and large particles with a density greater than the density of the disperse medium. It has been revealed that the mathematical expectation of the number of collisions of particles of the same size is negligibly small. On the other hand, provided that the concentration of small particles in a poly disperse system is not small, the relative frequency of their collision with large particles is close to 1. The obtained result proves the probability of adhesion of small particles to the surface of a large particle. It does not contradict the results obtained by other authors and methods. At flotation extraction of fine particles at the expense of their capture by fast moving coarse particles can make 50 %. Discussion. Theoretical and experimental research of the fine gold extraction technology by flotation with carrier minerals (or solid wall by another terminology), whose distinctive feature is the use of extremely related to the fine ore gold surfaces as carrier minerals - the large metallic gold extracted from the techno-genic placer. It is shown that enhancement of technological performance is achieved through the effective interaction of poly disperse particles with the formation of aggregates extracted by the mechanism of inertial flotation of large particles. Conclusion. The calculation shows that the economic effect is achieved, firstly, by increasing the production of marketable products by reducing metal losses with wastes of processing. Secondly, due to obtaining a higher total cost as a result of reducing the unit cost of gold production in the joint processing of gold-containing raw materials. Resume. The results of the study can be used in the joint ore and placer processing according to the scheme - separation of gold enriched product from the placer with minimal metal losses with the wastes of processing - formation of goldbearing aggregates by adhesion of fine gold ore on thin plates and flakes of placer gold - flotation of fine gold ore on the carrier minerals.