Flotation Kinetics of Copper-Bearing Shale in the Presence of NaCl and α-Terpineol

This study investigates the influence of salt (NaCl) and, separately, frother (α-terpineol) on flotation of copper-bearing shale. It was shown, as expected, that increasing concentration of either NaCl or α-terpineol improves both ultimate shale recovery and the kinetics of flotation, except for very high frother concentrations, which lead to a drop in flotation. It appears that the relationship between the first-order flotation rate constant and ultimate recovery for both applied reagents follows the same pattern regardless of the different mechanisms of NaCl and frother action.