Interactive effects of pulp potential and oxygen content on copper-zinc separation at Cayeli Bakir Isletmeleri AS (CBI) flotation plant

Ten measurement surveys were undertaken in Cayeli Bakir Isletmeleri A.S. (Csi) flotation plant at different time intervals. Pulp potential and dissolved oxygen content were measured at different points in the Cu-rougher and Zn rougher circuits to observe their effects on the recovery and grade of copper rougher and zinc rougher concentrates. It was observed that the copper recovery increased slightly at positive potentials, but the grade of the concentrate remained almost constant. In the zinc rougher bank, however, as the pulp potential was increased, the zinc recovery decreased but the concentrate grade increased. The decrease in the recovery at high potentials could be attributed to inefficient activation of sphalerite by copper ions. The sensitivity of recovery and concentrate grade in the zinc rougher circuit to the pulp potential indicates that it might be possible to use this approach to optimize the reagent dosages and hence the pulp potential for better sphalerite flotation.