Study of Ultrasound Effects on Flotation Selectivity in Waste Processing at the Yaroslavsky Mining Company

Abstract

The processability of production waste of Yaroslavsky Mining Company is studied. The features of processing characteristics of secondary raw materials are estimated. The methods to eliminate the negative effects caused by residues of primary processing reagents and new formations on mineral particles are considered. The efficiency of ultrasound pulp treatment aimed at renewal of mineral particle surface and desorption of surface coatings is shown. Experimental data are presented, which indicate an increase in the selectivity of fluorite and calcite separation from the primary operations of a flow chart. A comparative analysis of the flotation kinetics using the standard model and the flow chart with ultrasound pulp pretreatment indicates an increase in the process speed with a simultaneous selectivity growth. It is found that fluorite extraction to concentrates with 93.48% of CaF₂ and the use of ultrasound treatment of flotation feed reaches 60.27–64.43%, and with 95.67% of CaF₂—49.82%.