Optimization of Conditions for Processing of Lead–Zinc Ores Enrichment Tailings of East Kazakhstan

Abstract

This article presents the results of studies of a low-waste technology for processing enrichment tailings using a combined enrichment–hydrometallurgical method. After washing the enrichment tailings from harmful products and reducing their size, multi-stage flotation of the crushed material of the enrichment tailings was carried out. The use of a new reagent in the flotation process was studied in order to ensure the maximum recovery of the main valuable components from the enrichment tailings. A new collector of Aero 7249 (Shenyang Florrea Chemicals Co., Ltd., Shenyang, China) type was used for the flotation. The recovery of valuable components was as follows: Cu, 6.78%; Zn, 91.69%; Pb, 80.81%; Au, 95.90%; Ag, 82.50%; Fe, 78.78%. Tailings of the flotation were re-enriched using a fatty acid collector (sodium oleate). Additional (reverse) flotation resulted in obtaining a product corresponding to the composition of building sand in terms of the content of valuable components of the waste rock. The studies of the conditions for processing the enrichment tailings of lead–zinc ore indicate the possibility of its optimization in order to maximize the involvement of waste in the production. © 2021 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.