Patent ID: 9028782
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: B03D,C22B

Abstract:
1. A method of separating nickel bearing sulphides from mined ores or concentrates of mined ores that contain talc particles, the method comprising at least one flotation stage comprising decreasing an Eh of a slurry of mined ores or concentrates of mined ores by adding a reducing agent and making particles of nickel bearing sulphides in the ores or concentrates less hydrophobic than talc particles in the ores or concentrates, adding a surface modifying agent to the slurry to coat the talc particles and not nickel bearing sulphide particles with the surface modifying agent, to cause water particles to attach to the coated talc to depress floatability of the talc particles; the flotation stage including the step of increasing the Eh of the slurry after the addition of the surface modifying agent to the slurry, making particles of nickel bearing sulphides more hydrophobic and thereby improve the floatability of the nickel bearing particles.