Application of Reagents in the Form of a Reverse Microemulsion for the Flotation of Lead and Zinc Sulfides

The results of the studies on the use of collector reagents in the form of a reverse microemulsion (RME) of the water-in-oil type (i.e., water droplets are suspended in the oil phase) for the flotation extraction of lead and zinc minerals are presented. Lead and zinc concentrates and a lead–zinc ore are used as the initial samples for flotation. The concentration of galena in the lead concentrate is 74.7%, and the concentration of sphalerite in the zinc concentrate is 78.7%. Basic collector reagents in the composition of the RME are potassium butyl xanthate (PBX) and kerosene. A nonionic surfactant (NSA) is used to stabilize the RME. Casein is used as additives to the main reagents to eliminate the negative effect of osmotic pressure upon preparing the RME. The transformation of casein to the active soluble form is carried out using sodium sulfide. The particle size in the reverse microemulsion is 12.38 nm. The following options for supplying reagents to the flotation pulp are studied in flotation tests: RME, RME + foaming agent, and potassium butyl xanthate + foaming agent. A T-92 reagent is used as the foaming agent. The consumption of PBX in the composition of the RME and in the classical supply is 26 g/t. The results of laboratory tests show that the method of supplying flotation reagents in the form of an RME leads to an increase both in the flotation rate of lead and zinc sulfides and in their recovery into a foam product. Tests with the use of an RME in the collective flotation cycle of a lead–zinc ore show an increase in the extraction of lead into the total concentrate by 10.8% and zinc by 38.5% in comparison with the classical supply of reagents (collector + foaming agent) in addition to an increase in the flotation rate. An increased selectivity of the action of an RME in relation to zinc sulfides in comparison with lead sulfides is noted. The flotation rate coefficient of sphalerite is 7.8-fold higher when compared to galena. The gain in the extraction into the total zinc concentrate is also higher and is 16.78%, while the gain into the lead concentrate is 1.9% under the same conditions.