Proceedings of XIIIth International Mineral Processing Symposium Bodrum-Turkey, 2012

THE BENEFICIATION OF ANTIMONY ORE BY FLOTATION

B. Kocaba, O. Gven, , M. zer, O. Kangal

Istanbul Technical University, Faculty of Mines, Mineral Processing Engineering

Department, 34469, Maslak, Istanbul, TURKEY, *e-mail: oguven@itu.edu.tr
ABSTRACT: Antimony is a strategic metal which is used in many industrial areas. The content of
the antimony ore is the most important point for determining the area of usage. Since, high-grade
antimony ores are depleted, there are many research studies involving the enrichment of low-grade
antimony ores. For this ores, mainly flotation is applied for beneficiation and pre-stage for
metallurgical processes.
In this study, flotation parameters as pH, the type and dosages of collector and depressor, number of
cleaning stages and flotation time were investigated in order to obtain concentrates assaying highgrade antimony and limited scale of arsenic content. With these experimental studies, optimum values
for each parameter were determined. And as a result of the flotation test carried out with optimum
values, a concentrate assaying 66.8 % Sb content with 79.5 % recovery was obtained while the
arsenic content was found as 0.3 %

INTRODUCTION
Most of the antimony minerals are combined with other elements as to form different minerals.
However, antimony is rarely found at native form in nature [1]. The main source of antimony
minerals and its compounds is Stibnite (Sb2S3). In general, beneficiations of antimony minerals are
carried out by the order of pre-concentration either by ore or by product from metal beneficiation for
obtaining saleable products. So, the selection of the beneficiation method is important and
mineralogical composition and the texture of the ore plays an important role on this selection. Mineral
processing involves many methods depending on the characteristics of the ore, but for antimony
minerals, according to the liberation size and content of the fractions, gravity methods or flotation
method is generally applied. In addition, the type of antimony ore as oxide or sulphur antimony is
effective on determination of the method. In general, gravity concentration is mostly applied for oxide
and coarse-grained ores, where flotation method is better for beneficiation of sulphide and finegrained antimony ores [2].
Antimony grade of both ore and concentrate also determines the treatment method and also the usage
areas for antimony metal [3].
The aim of this study is to determine the optimum conditions for flotation of antimony ore in terms of
Sb and As content of concentrate. And also decreasing Sb content while increasing the As content of
the tailings.

MATERIAL AND METHOD

Physical and chemical properties of tailings samples
The antimony sample used in this study was obtained from Turhal district located in Tokat. The
chemical analysis of the ore sample is shown in Table 1. On the basis of this preliminary
information, it is clear that SiO2 is the major impurity which is present mainly according to the quartz
mineral.

Proceedings of XIIIth International Mineral Processing Symposium Bodrum-Turkey, 2012

Table 1. Chemical analysis of sample

Element
Sb
As
Fe
S

Content ( % )
5,84
1,38
5,01
2,89

The XRD graph of the antimony sample was shown in Figure 1. According to the XRD analysis,
quartz constitutes the main gangue mineral of the antimony ore.

Figure 1. XRD graph of antimony sample

RESULTS
Effect of pH on flotation
In order to determine the appropriate pH value for flotation, a series of tests were accomplished by
considering the Sb and As content of products. In these tests, different pH values were taken as 6.0,
6.5, 7.0, 7.2 and 8.0. All the tests were conducted with single stage. During these tests, 100 g/t KAX
was used as collector while 100 g/t AeroFroth 65 was used as frother. Furthermore, 100 g/t Pb(NO3)2
was also used as depressant in this group of tests. According to the results given in Table 2, pH: 6.5
was found as optimum pH value, considering the antimony and arsenic content of the concentrate and
tailings. This results also indicated that increase on pH value resulted in an increasing oxidation on
the sulphur mineral surfaces and it can be also thought that a competition between collector ion and
hydroxyl ion occurring for absorption on the surface of the mineral.

Proceedings of XIIIth International Mineral Processing Symposium Bodrum-Turkey, 2012

Table 2. The flotation studies for determining the effect of pH

pH
6.0

6.5

7.0

7.2

Products Weight, %
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total

11.6
88.4
100.0
5.3
94.7
100.0
8.3
91.7
100.0
10.9
89.1
100.0
9.1
90.9
100.0

Sb, %
As, %
Content Recovery Content Recovery
15.00
29.4
4.88
45.0
4.73
70.6
0.80
55.0
5.92
100.0
1.29
100.0
30.18
28.9
5.36
34.6
4.19
71.1
0.57
65.4
5.58
100.0
0.83
100.0
14.51
19.7
5.63
56.2
5.38
80.3
0.40
43.8
6.14
100.0
0.84
100.0
11.99
22.8
4.61
60.3
4.94
77.2
0.37
39.7
5.71
100.0
0.83
100.0
16.09
25.2
5.09
51.5
4.77
74.8
0.48
48.5
5.80
100.0
0.90
100.0

Under certain conditions as constant collector concentration, the medium becomes more basic, the
possibility of reaction on mineral surface with collector is becoming harder and as a result the sulphur
minerals are depressed.
Effect of KAX concentration
The effect of KAX concentration on flotation studies was evaluated by the addition of 50, 100, 150
and 200 g/t collector in single stage. During these tests, the pH value was taken as 6.5, Na2S2O5 was
used as dispersant and 20 g/t MIBC was used as frother. The optimum collector concentration was
determined depending on the Sb and As content of concentrate and tailings. According to the results
shown in Table 3, 100 g/t KAX addition was found as optimum in terms of Sb and As content of
concentrate.
Table 3. The flotation studies for determining the optimum collector dosage
KAX, g/t Products Weight, %
50

100

150

200

Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total

10.0
90.0
100.0
5.3
94.7
100.0
11.8
88.2
100.0
12.3
87.7
100.0

Sb, %
As, %
Content Recovery Content Recovery
15.17
27.5
4.88
36.5
4.47
72.5
0.94
63.5
5.48
100.0
1.33
100.0
30.18
28.9
5.36
34.6
4.19
71.1
0.57
65.4
5.58
100.0
0.83
100.0
21.24
43.9
5.08
35.2
3.62
56.1
1.25
64.8
5.70
100.0
1.70
100.0
26.26
57.9
4.93
36.8
2.68
42.1
1.19
63.2
5.59
100.0
1.65
100.0

Proceedings of XIIIth International Mineral Processing Symposium Bodrum-Turkey, 2012

Although, the success criteria for this group of tests was Sb and As % content of concentrate, in order
to decrease the Sb and As content of the tailings, addition of collector was carried out in more than
one stage.
Effect of rougher stages
In order to determine the effect of number of stages, activator, depressor amounts, conditioning time
and pH value were taken as constant. In these tests, only the effect of gradually addition of KAX was
investigated. The KAX addition was carried out in 3 steps as (50+50+50 ; 100+100+100 ;
200+200+200 ; 250+250+250 g/t).
The results of these tests were given in Table 4. The best results was obtained in the case of 750 g/t
addition by 3 stages (250+250+250). The Sb and As content of the concentrate was found as 28.34
and 3.82 As while the recovery was found as 70.3 %.

Table 4. The flotation studies for determining the effect of collector dosage
KAX, g/t

Products

Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
100+100+100 Tailings
Total
Concentrate
200+200+200 Tailings
Total
Concentrate
250+250+250 Tailings
Total
50+50+50

Weight, %
15.3
84.7
100
23.5
76.5
100
20.4
79.6
100
14.8
85.2
100

Sb, %
As, %
Content Recovery Content Recovery
16.74
47.2
4.80
55.3
3.38
52.8
0.70
44.7
5.42
100.0
1.33
100.0
24.54
98.9
3.69
62.5
0.08
1.1
0.68
37.5
5.83
100.0
1.39
100.0
27.75
97.3
5.02
65.1
0.20
2.7
0.69
34.9
5.82
100.0
1.57
100.0
28.34
70.3
3.82
49.0
2.08
29.7
0.69
51.0
5.97
100.0
1.15
100.0

Effect of lignosulphonate dosage

In addition to KAX, sodium sulfide was added as a sulphidizing agent to recover the possible oxide
antimony minerals in feed. During these tests, the conditions were considered as the same as previous
studies. According to the results given in Table 5, it was found that, addition of sodium sulphide was
not effective on Sb content of concentrate.

Proceedings of XIIIth International Mineral Processing Symposium Bodrum-Turkey, 2012

Table 5. The flotation test results for determining the effect of sodium sulfide
Lignosulphonate, g/t Products Weight, %
0.0

250

500.0

750

Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total

23.5
76.5
100.0
18.1
81.9
100.0
16.4
83.6
100.0
19.0
81.0
100.0

Sb, %
As, %
Content Recovery Content Recovery
24.54
98.9
3.69
62.6
0.08
1.1
0.68
37.4
5.84
100.0
1.39
100.0
26.28
83.3
3.81
52.2
1.16
16.7
0.77
47.8
5.70
100.0
1.32
100.0
24.51
73.0
3.66
45.5
1.78
27.0
0.86
54.5
5.50
100.0
1.32
100.0
21.36
74.3
3.54
50.4
1.74
25.7
0.82
49.6
5.47
100.0
1.34
100.0

On the other hand, it was also found that, increasing the number of cleaning stages resulted in an
increase in Sb content and recovery. Therefore, considering the same parameters as collector, frother
dosage, rougher stages were followed by seven cleaning stages. The results of this test were given in
Table 6.
Table 6.. The flotation test results for determining the number of cleaning stages
Pb(NO3 )2 , g/t
50.0

100

150.0

200

Products Weight, %
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total
Concentrate
Tailings
Total

17.1
82.9
100.0
23.5
76.5
100.0
16.3
83.7
100.0
17.9
82.1
100.0

Sb, %
As, %
Content Recovery Content Recovery
21.03
67.4
4.49
46.5
2.09
32.6
1.06
53.5
5.32
100.0
1.64
100.0
24.54
98.9
3.69
62.6
0.08
1.1
0.68
37.4
5.84
100.0
1.39
100.0
27.94
86.1
4.54
45.2
0.88
13.9
1.07
54.8
5.29
100.0
1.64
100.0
26.45
83.1
4.40
48.2
1.17
16.9
1.03
51.8
5.69
100.0
1.63
100.0

CONCLUSIONS
In series of tests for determining the optimum pH value, best results were obtained at pH : 6.5
considering the Sb and As content of concentrate and tailings.
The optimum KAX dosage was found as 100 g/t depending on the Sb and As content of concentrate.
However, in order to decrease the loss in tailings, gradually addition was also examined.
In series of tests for determining the optimum KAX amount and number of stages, 750 g/t addition
was found to be optimum

Proceedings of XIIIth International Mineral Processing Symposium Bodrum-Turkey, 2012

REFERENCES
B[1] Riaz M., Jan N., Hussain, T. M., Khan U. F. and Yamin A. : Flotation Studies of Low Grade
Stibnite Ore From Krinj( Chitral) Area. J. Chem. Soc. Pak., Vol. 30, No. 4, pp. 584-587, Pakistan,
2008.
[2] Jain, S.K., Ore Processing, Oxford & IBH Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. p. 418, 1986.
[3] Bhatti A. M., Kazmi R. K., Nizami S. M., Anwar S. M., Saleemi A. A. and Butt K., Mineralogical
and Liberation Characteristics of Antimony Ore of Chitral NWFP, Pakistan. J. Chem. Soc. Pak. Vol.
31 No. 1, pp. 39-45, Pakistan, 2009.