Investigation of the characteristics of stibnite (Sb2S3) flotation tailings and extraction of critical metals (Sb and As): Optimization and scale-up
Dembele S. Akcil A. Panda S.
15 September 2024Elsevier Ltd
Minerals Engineering
2024#216
The supply of metals is increasingly challenged by high demand for raw materials and the depletion of high-grade ore deposits. In addition, the management of tailings from metal processing remains a persistent problem in the mining sector. This study aims to characterize stibnite tailings and develop a hydrometallurgical process for the recovery of antimony, arsenic, and iron and the removal of sulfide minerals from these tailings. The main minerals identified were stibnite, pyrite, and a small amount of arsenopyrite, together with associated gangue minerals such as quartz and muscovite. Optimum conditions were set as follows: 4.4 M HCl, 0.5 M NaNO3, 25 % pulp density, 70 °C temperature, and 1-hour leach time. Under these conditions, flask leaching tests achieved remarkable leaching efficiencies of 99.88 % for Sb, 99.90 % for As, and 99.95 % for Fe. Bench scale experiments (1L reactor) showed high leaching efficiencies of 99.70 % for Sb, 97.50 % for As, and 97.00 % for Fe. Finally, leaching efficiencies of 98.30 % for Sb, 92.00 % for As, and 98.00 % for Fe were successfully achieved in semi-pilot tests (10 L reactor).
Antimony , Critical metals , Desing of Experiment , Flotation tailings , Leaching , Stibnite
Text of the article Перейти на текст статьи
Department of Mining Engineering, Mineral Processing Division (Mineral-Metal Recovery and Recycling Research Group), Suleyman Demirel University, Isparta, TR32260, Turkey
School of Mining and Geosciences (SMG), Nazarbayev University, 6 Block, 53 Kabanbay Batyr Avenue, Astana, 010000, Kazakhstan
Department of Industrial Biotechnology Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU), Gujarat, Gandhinagar, 382355, India
Department of Mining Engineering
School of Mining and Geosciences (SMG)
Department of Industrial Biotechnology Gujarat Biotechnology University (GBU)
10 лет помогаем публиковать статьи Международный издатель
Книга Публикация научной статьи Волощук 2026 Book Publication of a scientific article 2026