Effects of pH and pulp potential on the selective separation of Molybdenite from the Sungun Cu-Mo concentrate

Abstract

In this research, selective flotation of Mo from the Sungun Cu-Mo concentrate was evaluated in different operating conditions. It was found that the addition of 16 kg/t Na2S into flotation pulp and aeration decreased rapidly the initial oxidized- reduction potential (ORP) of the pulp from +228mV to -597 mV (with reference to standard Ag/AgCl electrode) and increasing the amount of Na2S by 50kg/t did not change the pulp potential. The highest metallurgical and selective separation of Mo from Mo-Cu concentrate were achieved at pH= 10.5 and ORP