Browsing by Author "Arriagada Valenzuela, Javiera Valentina"

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    Optimización en la recuperación de cobre a partir de minerales oxidados en Caserones.
    (Universidad de Concepción, 2024) Arriagada Valenzuela, Javiera Valentina; Gutiérrez Briones, Leopoldo
    Minera Caserones is exploring alternatives to improve the efficiency of its processes, among which is the implementation of an operational flotation standard, along with studies to improve recovery. For the development of the standard, information, plans and technical sheets were collected that detail the operating specifications of the concentrator plant, information that was contrasted with that of the Integrated Operations Center (CIO). The operational standard marked the beginning of the implementation of good practices to carry out operations effectively and has become a valuable tool for the company's workers. Added to this, on repeated occasions, the site faces the challenge of processing Phase 6 ore, which is characterized by being very complex due to its high K factor, which has resulted in the destabilization of the process and decreased recoveries. Within the framework of this problem, the use of NaSH and EDTA was proposed to mitigate these effects. Regarding the results obtained, in the case of a granulometry of 200 microns, it was observed that 25 g/t of NaSH led to increases in copper recovery that exceeded 5 percentage points. On the other hand, the chelator, by itself, did not produce improvements in any of the tests. However, the combination of both reagents in a dosage of 20 g/t of EDTA together with 50 g/t of NaSH, achieved an optimization of the recovery, exceeding the base case by 4 percentage points. On the other hand, in the case of the 240 micron granulometry, the dosage of 25 g/t of NaSH led to a copper recovery of 70%, that is, exceeding the base case of the same granulometry by 4 percentage points. While EDTA did not work at low doses, where the high dose maintained recovery which is not part of the goal. As for molybdenum, the recovery obtained in the base case with the P80 of 200 and 240 microns was 48 and 47% respectively, which in the case of the finer granulometry together with the addition of 20 g/t of EDTA and 50 g/t NaSH increased the recovery to 61%, that is, 13 percentage points over standard tests. For the 240 micron case, the dosage that increased the recovery was 20 g/t of EDTA together with 75 g/t of NaSH, which exceeded the standard case by 5 percentage points.
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