The Effect of Microwave Radiation on Flotation of Copper Sulfide Minerals

Flotation is one of the most important methods of mineral processing that its efficiency is affected by two factors of surface chemistry and liberation degree. In this research, the effect of microwave radiation on the surface chemistry and liberation degree of copper sulfide minerals was investigated for obtaining suitable methods for pretreatment of two different ores (Sarcheshmeh and Palangi). In flotation studies on the effect of microwave radiation on the surface chemistry, after 90 seconds radiation (550 W), the concentrate grade and recovery of the Sarcheshmeh samples increased 7 and 2 percent, respectively but the concentrate grade and recovery of the Palangi samples decreased 4 and 8 percent, respectively. Also, in flotation studies on the effect of microwave radiation on the liberation degree, after 180 seconds radiation (550 W), the concentrate grade and recovery of the Sarcheshmeh samples increased 4 and 6 percent respectively but for the Palangi samples, a same increase in the grade and recovery was obtained in 600 seconds of microwave radiation. Furthermore, flotation rate constant of the Sarcheshmeh and Palangi samples increased 0.2 and 0.1 per minute respectively, after 120 seconds microwave radiation.