METHOD FOR RECOVERY OF SULPHIDE MINERALS FROM SULPHIDE-CONTAINING MATERIAL

This invention relates to a method for recovery of sulphide minerals from sulphide- containing material including waste sulphide and sulphide-containing ores. Particularly, it is conducted via a froth flotation process comprising the steps of: grinding and sieving the sulphide-containing material fo an average particle size of 45 to 600 ?m; adding water to the material to produce a slurry having 20 to 30 wt% of solid; and conditioning the slurry by sequentially adding a xanthate-based collector, an oil-based promoter and alcohol-based frother in that order while constantly stirring, in which the collector is used in an amount of 200 to 300 g/tonne of the material, the promoter is used in an amount of 150 to 200 g/tonne of the material and the frother is used in an amount of 250 to 300 g/tonne of the material, wherein the flotation process is carried out at a pH ranging from 2 to 3 whereby air is introduced into the slurry to form bubbles which separate hydrophobic sulphide mineral from the hydrophilic compounds in the slurry.