“Aplicación Industrial de AERO® 7260HFP como

reemplazo parcial del NaSH en la Flotación selectiva

del Cu-Mo.”

Autor: Alexis Campos – Business Development Manager South America.

 Current Scenario
• Molybdenum production worldwide is a co-value with copper in copper-
Molybdenum ores. Selective separation of Molybdenum is achieved by copper
sulfide depression while molybdenite floated.
• To depress copper sulfide some inorganic reagents, such as NaSH, Nokes, Anamol
D or Na2S at high dosages have been used historically to achieve separation of
copper sulfides from molybdenum and Organic reagents such thioglycolate or
similar products.
• Those reagents are problematic primarily due to their poor HSE profiles. Mo-
producing companies have been searching for ways to reduce their reagent
dosages during Cu-Mo separation to provide a safer environment for their
workers.
 Inorganic vs. Organic vs. Polymeric
• For the same functional group:

Increasing Efficiency
(Lower dosage for same depressant activity)
Inorganic Organic Polymeric
E.g. NaSH E.g. NaTG E.g. 7260

Hazardous and Toxicity

 Mechanism of Cu desorption
100 Flotation
ORP of NaSH ∆𝐺 = −𝑛𝐹(𝑂𝑅𝑃)
Cu-Mo conc

Time
0

Cu Mo
Collector Adsorption

-100

Air
-200
Cu flotation
Desorption

-300
ORP (mV)

-400 Mo flotation

-500

-600
 Mechanism of Cu desorption
100 Flotation
ORP of NaSH ∆𝐺 = −𝑛𝐹(𝑂𝑅𝑃)
Cu-Mo conc

Time
0

Cu Mo
Collector Adsorption

-100

-200
Desorption

-300
ORP (mV)

-400 Mo flotation

-500

N2
-600
 How does Aero®7260 work?
100 ORP of NaSH 7260 ∆𝐺 = −𝑛𝐹(𝑂𝑅𝑃)
Cu-Mo conc

Time
0
7260
Cu Mo
Collector Adsorption

-100

Air
-200
Cu flotation 7260
Desorption

-300
ORP (mV)

-400 Mo flotation

-500

-600
CYTEC CONFIDENTIAL
Aero 7260 HFP Depressant
• It has a safer SHE profile. It is not classify as a Dangerous Good.
• Can be added as is with a pump. It does not need to added
diluted.
 NaSH SHE Aspects
• NaSH dosages are in the range of 4 – 10 kg per tonne bulk
concentrate.

• Dangerous Good: Class 8. Corrosive.

• This presents challenges in logistics and transportation, besides the

risks associated to the material.
• Solvay developed a synthetic depressant for copper and other
sulfides, with a SHE profile environmentally more attractive and a
toxicological profile safer. This product is a partial replacement for
NaSH. NaSH consumption reduction varies and can be up to 80%
depending on the operation conditions. Grams of Aero 7260 HFP
replace Kilograms of NaSH.
Laboratory Studies with Aero 7260
• Studies run at the laboratory demonstrated at Rougher Stage
that 30 to 40% of the NaSH consumption can be replaced by
150-200 grams of Aero 7260.
• Due the Laboratory result looked promising, Plant trial was
planned to confirm this results.
• Plant trial was conducted on December 2016 in a block of 17
days until the whole consumption of the reagent and not ON-
OFF daily or weekly.
Plant Trial with Aero 7260
• To avoid any negative effect to the plant operation (Mo grades), it was
planned to start adding Aero 7260 to the cleaner stage in a dosage of 100
grams per tonne of cleaner feed. The ORP was started to be reduced gradually
from -550 mV to -450 mV in five days. This ORP conditions were maintained
for 17 days. Aero 7260 dosage and Mo conc. was checked every 6 hours.
• After 5 days of operation with no mayor variation at the metallurgical results
at the cleaners, the Aero 7260 addition started at the Rougher stage with 100
grams per tonne and the ORP was adjusted gradually from -550 to -500 mV.
This condition was maintained for 17 days.
Aero 7260 Plant Trial Results
• Tonnage variation was monitored during the Plant Trial.
Molybdenum Head Grades Variation
NaSH Consumption Variation
5,12 kg/t average 3,74 kg/t average
NaSH Consumption: Statistical Analysis
Aero 7260 Dosage during Plant Trial

Cleaner 1
ORP variations at Cleaner Stage 1
ORP variations at Rougher Stage
Mo Recovery Variation

There is no difference in Mo recovery between Base Line (STD) and Aero 7260
Mo Recovery: Statistical Analysis

There is no difference in Mo recovery between Base Line (STD) and Aero 7260
Rougher Mass Recovery

18,1% Av. 11.5% Av.

More stable process with Aero 7260 HFP

 Mo Grades Variations

Mo Head Grades Mo conc. Grade

1.52% Mo 1.13% Mo 49.5% Mo 47.6% Mo
 Conclusions
• Aero 7260 HFP at 150-200 gpt replaces 27% of the NaSH consumption, and
provide a safer place for the plant workers and the environment.
• This partial NaSH replacement allow an economic impact in cost saving of
18% in reagent consumption.
• The process with Aero 7260 HFP was more stable comparing Mass recovery
without the Aero Depressant. The process become more controllable.
• Solvay believe that there is room to optimize the NaSH consumption. The
replacement percentage would be increased during the normal operation
with Aero 7260.
Gracias