RELATIVE FLOTATION RESPONSE OF ZINC-SULFIDE - MINERAL AND PRECIPITATE

A study has been conducted to compare the floatability of fine zinc su lfide (ZnS) precipitates and sphalerite particles. The floatability of the precipitates was significantly poorer compared to sphalerite part icles when xanthate was used as the collector. The floatability was im proved by using dodecylamine as the collector, and the difference in f loatability between the precipitates and sphalerite particles was redu ced. The flotation kinetics of the precipitates was further improved s ignificantly by incorporating a hydrodynamic cavitation tube in a conv entional (mechanical) flotation cell. The improved kinetics was attrib uted to in-situ gas nucleation on the precipitates.