Froth Floatation Process: Breaking Sulphide Ore using Acid

[lakshmi]

in froath floatation process of concentrating the sulphide ore how is froath containing sulphide ore broken by adding dilute acid what is the actual reaction

 

[maverick280857]

Please refer to this site first: http://home.att.net/~cat6a/metals-IX.htm

I quote now, from http://www.citycollegiate.com/IX_copper.htm

"Finely divided CuFeS2 is concentrated by "Froth-floatation method". Crushed ore is suspended in water containing pine oil. A blast of air is passed through the suspension. The particles of ore get wetted by oil and floats as a froth which is skimmed. The gangue sink to the bottom."

And as far as I can recall, I never encountered an addition of nitric acid (or for that matter any acid) to the froth floatation mixture (containing pine oil and the crushed ore suspended in water).

Please clarify...

Cheers
Vivek

 

[ravenprp]

The froth floatation process is an effective method for concentrating sulphide ores, which contain valuable minerals such as copper, lead, zinc, and nickel. This process involves breaking down the sulphide ore into smaller particles, which are then mixed with water and a frothing agent. The frothing agent helps to create a froth on the surface of the water, which traps the sulphide particles and allows them to be separated from the gangue (unwanted material).

In order to break down the sulphide ore, dilute acid is added to the mixture. The acid reacts with the sulphide minerals, causing them to break down into smaller particles. This reaction is known as acid hydrolysis, which can be represented by the following equation:

Sulphide ore + Dilute acid → Sulphur + Water + Metal salt

For example, in the case of copper sulphide ore, the reaction would be:

Copper sulphide + Dilute acid → Sulphur + Water + Copper salt

The sulphur formed in this reaction is insoluble in water and will float to the surface, along with the froth, while the metal salt remains in the water. This allows for the separation of the valuable minerals from the gangue.

In summary, the addition of dilute acid in the froth floatation process helps to break down the sulphide ore into smaller particles, which can then be separated from the gangue using the froth created by the frothing agent. This process is an important step in the concentration of sulphide ores and has been used for many years in the mining industry.