18th European Symposium on Comminution & Classification (ESCC 2024), Miskolc, Macaristan, 24 - 26 Haziran 2024, ss.144
The flotation process plays a crucial role in separating valuable minerals from gangue, especially
in the concentration of sulfide ores, where pyrite is a common gangue mineral. It is also well known that
different grinding conditions may result in different flotation responses. Hence, it is essential to establish the
flotation behavior of pyrite following different grinding schemes for optimizing sulfide ore processing
strategies. This study investigates the effects of varying grinding conditions, specifically dry and wet
grinding, on the flotation behavior of pyrite under different reagent schemes and pH values. The
experimental methodology involved systematic alteration of grinding conditions and collector
concentrations while maintaining a comprehensive pH spectrum. Both dry and wet grinding conditions were
examined to evaluate their distinct effects on pyrite surface properties, particle size distribution, and
subsequent flotation response. The study aimed to clarify the relationship between grinding conditions, pH,
and collector dosage in determining the flotation behavior of pyrite, with a specific focus on conditions
where no pyrite flotation response was recognized. The results obtained from this research provide valuable
insights into the effect of grinding conditions to designate the pyrite flotation behavior, considering the
entire pH range used in the experiments. The findings may contribute to increasing the flotation efficiency
of complex sulfide ores by providing the conditions where the lowest pyrite recovery is obtained.