Flotation of Fine Gold Particles by the Assistance of Coal-Oil Agglomerates

This paper describes the use of coal-oil agglomerates in flotation to increase the gold recovery from an ore containing fine gold particles. The effects of operating parameters on gold flotation recovery such as oil type, particle size of agglomerating material, agglomerate/ore and oil/ore ratios were investigated. The studies showed that petroleum oils are more effective than vegetable oils in oil agglomeration of Kozlu coal and coal-oil assisted gold flotation. Gold recovery can be increased using a higher amount of agglomerates in the process; however, gold grade of the flotation concentrates is reduced significantly. The use of bridging oil at high concentrations in the agglomeration process provides high-grade gold concentrates, but lower recoveries. The utilization of coarser coal particles in the coal-oil agglomeration stage leads to higher selectivity and recovery values for gold particles.