Patent ID: 6679383
Filing Date: 2004-01-20
Classification: B03D

Abstract:
A method for flotation processing a platinum group metal ore material to prepare a platinum group metal concentrate, the method comprising:flotation of a feed of the ore material to produce a flotation concentrate enriched in platinum group metal relative to the feed of the ore material and to produce a flotation tail depleted in platinum group metal relative to the feed of the ore material, the flotation comprising introducing a flotation gas into a slurry containing the ore material in particulate form, with the flotation concentrate being collected from froth at the top of the slurry; the flotation gas being selected from the group consisting of a gas composition essentially free of oxygen gas and a gas composition comprising no more that 15 volume percent oxygen gas; and prior to or during the flotation, adding to the ore material at least a collector reagent and a lead-containing activator reagent.