OJSC “Ecomet Plus”, Moscow, Russia:

A. A. Zubkov, Chief Technologist, e-mail: trbusiness7@mail.ru
Z. M. Shulenina, Chief Executive Officer

Moscow State Mining University (MGGU), Moscow, Russia:

A. A. Abramov, Professor

The oxidized copper ores are contained by water-soluble minerals with which during flotation a copper is lost. The purpose of the work was to study the behavior of water-soluble copper compounds during processing of oxidized copper ores by the method of flotation. At the same time the main task was put — to develop technology to reduce losses of water-soluble copper mineral khalkontit during the flotation processing of oxidized copper of ores. The solution to the problem was carried out on the basis of the use of formaldehyde for the transfer of water-soluble copper compounds into the metallic state, followed by flotation extraction. The sulfate of copper from the solution is transferred into a metallic form in an alkaline environment by formaldehyde when heated to 60–65 ^oC. As a regulator of environment it is known as the most affordable, cheap reagent. Theoretical studies of the possibility of transfer of copper sulfate in the metal were confirmed by instrumental methods, including X-ray analysis. On radiographs after renewal of copper ions to the metal with formaldehyde in an alkaline environment the peaks which are specific for copper can be clearly seen. After the renewal of copper ions to the metal there was used a flotation extraction by the standard flotation reagents. The resulting metallic copper has a high flotation activity; its extraction from the composite solution is 96.6%. The use of formaldehyde regeneration gives grounds to consider the method to be environmentally friendly due to the fact that during the recovery in the highly alkaline environment products of oxidation are carbon dioxide and water. The technology can be recommended for the concentrating factories, processing oxidized and mixed copper ores. The developed method of enriching of the oxidized copper ores will reduce the losses of copper and pollution of the environment; extend the resource base of mining of this precious metal.

1. Shulenina Z. M. et al. Tekhnogennye resursy Rossii. Obshchie svedeniya (Russian anthropogenic resources. General information). Moscow, 2001. 202 p.
2. Vorobyev A. E. Gornyi Zhurnal — Mining Journal. 1996. No. 11/12. pp. 89–91.
3. Golikov I. Tsvetnaya metallurgiya — Non-ferrous metallurgy. 1998. No. 11/12. pp. 51–54.
4. Trubetskoy K. N. et al. Gornyi Zhurnal — Mining Journal. 1998. No. 10. pp. 56–57.
5. Yakhontova L. K., Grudev A. P. Mineralogiya okislennykh rud : spravochnoe posobie (Mineralogy of oxidized ores : reference tool). Moscow : Nedra, 1987. 198 p.
6. Belobaba A. G., Pushkareva G. I., Masliy A. I., Bochkarev G. R. Ochistka tekhnogennykh rastvorov ot ionov tyazhelykh metallov (Purification of the anthropogenic solutions from the ions of heavy metals). Plaksinskie chteniya 2011 goda. Materialy mezhdunarodnogo soveshchaniya “Novye tekhnologii obogashcheniya i kompleksnoy pererabotki trudnoobogatimogo prirodnogo i tekhnogennogo syrya. Verkhnyaya Pyshma” (Plaksin's Readings — 2011. Materials of an International Conference “New technologies of enrichment and complex processing of the difficult for concentration natural and anthropogenic raw materials. Verkhnaya Pishma”). 2011. pp. 279–282.
7. Lebed A. B., Akulich L. F., Timofeev K. L. Sorbtsionnoe izvlechenie tsvetnykh metallov iz karernykh i podotvalnykh vod (Sorption extraction of non-ferrous metals from open-pit and underspoil waters). Plaksinskie chteniya 2011 goda. Materialy mezhdunarodnogo soveshchaniya “Novye tekhnologii obogashcheniya i kompleksnoy pererabotki trudnoobogatimogo prirodnogo i tekhnogennogo syrya. V. Pyshma” (Plaksin's Readings — 2011. Materials of an international Conference “New technologies of enrichment and complex processing of the hard processing natural and anthropogenic raw materials. Verkhnaya Pishma”). 2011. pp. 424–428.
8. Garrels R. M., Christ Ch. L. Rastvory, mineraly, ravnovesiya (Solutions, minerals, balances). Moscow : Mir, 1968. pp. 154–220.
9. Vorobyev A. E., Zubkov A. A., Chekushina T. V. Obogashchenie Rud — Mineral processing. 2010. No. 3. pp. 26–30.
10. Zubkov A. A., Shulenina Z. M. Tekhnologiya izvlecheniya blagorodnykh i redkikh metallov iz rastvorov metodom flotatsii (Technology of extraction of noble and rare metals from solutions by flotation method). Ekologiya i promyshlennost Rossii — Ecology and industry of Russia. 2010. No. 2.
11. Glazovskaya M. A. Geokhimiya prirodnykh i tekhnogennykh landshaftov SSSR : uchebnoe posobie dlya studentov geograficheskoy spetsialnosti Vysshikh Uchebnykh Zavedeniy (Geochemistry of natural and anthropogenic landscapes of USSR : tutorial for students of geographical speciality of institutes for higher education). Moscow : Visshaya shkola, 1988. 328 p.