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Specialty Chemistry Forums => Materials and Nanochemistry forum => Topic started by: stoneart_denny on April 13, 2008, 09:18:04 PM

Title: To Process Galena
Post by: stoneart_denny on April 13, 2008, 09:18:04 PM

Anybody know how to process galena to be each material part especially Pb and the other material like Ag, Zn, Au, etc.
As I know to process it with froth flotation. But if difficult to get a reagent as Sodium Xanthate. Maybe anyone have good idea to process Galena.

Title: Re: To Process Galena
Post by: Arkcon on April 13, 2008, 09:33:38 PM

Sulfide ores do pretty much require some sort of xanthate to make the powdered ore hydrophobic and float away from the waste rock.  According to Wikipedia, you can also use carbamates or other, thioureates, if those plastics feedstock chemicals are cheaper for you.  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Froth_flotation#Collectors

But you really can't skip this step, it would just be a waste of fuel to roast the ore, or perform electrolytic separation, with a mass of powdered silica rock.  I've never heard of biological ore leaching of lead ores, only iron or copper.  I guess lead is too toxic, even for microbes.