Grant: Alliance Grants

This project aims to study and find solutions to the three pressing issues faced by Strathcona Mill: (1) the more effective separation of Ni from Cu sulfides, particularly millerite from chalcopyrite; (2) investigation and elimination of the decomposition of the xanthate collector used in Strathcona Mill flotation circuit; (3) detect tramp metals in ore streams on belt conveyors. Millerite has a higher floatability than other Ni sulfide under the current operating conditions at Strathcona Mill, and it has caused the Ni content in the Cu concentrate to exceed smelter specifications. Decomposition of xanthate releases hazardous carbon disulfide gases to atmosphere in the Strathcona concentrator, deteriorating the working environment of the plant operators to the degree that they have to wear respirators. Tramp metals in ore streams on belt conveyors are unavoidable and hazardous to crushers, and visual observation is not only unreliable but also unable to detect tramp metals that are buried in the ore streams. This project will utilize the expertise of the applicant and co-applicants to study the reagent-mineral interactions at the mineral/water interface, electrochemical behavior of xanthate under the flotation pulp conditions, and microwave-metal interactions across a sulfide ore matrix. The project is expected to provide effective reagent schemes and process conditions to separate millerite from chalcopyrite more effectively, to understand and prevent the decomposition of xanthate under plant operating conditions, and to develop a prototype of microwave imaging device to effectively detect buried tramp metals in ore streams. Plant testing and implementation of these research results at Strathcona Mill is expected to significantly strengthen the technical, environmental and operational performance of Strathcona Mill.