Moscow State Mining University (Moscow, Russia):

Morozov V. V., Head of Department of Chemistry, Doctor of Engineering Sciences, e mail: dchmggu@mail.ru
Pestryak I. V., Assistant Professor, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

Erdenet Mining Corporation (Erdenet, Mongolia):
Baatarkhuu Zh., Chief Dresser, Doctor of Engineering Sciences

Mongolyn Alt (MAK) Group (Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia):
Khandmaa S., Director of the Center for Technological Research, Candidate of Engineering Sciences

The objective of the present study was to find regular patterns in processing of complex copper-molybdenum ore by flotation and bio-hydrometallurgical method and to choose application conditions for combination of the methods. As a result of the studies, the indexes and parameters of acid and bio-hydrometallurgical leaching of middling products were related with the grain size of the products, acidity of the medium, leaching duration, and temperature and density of the pulp slurry. The recommended optimum conditions for flotation of middling products are pH range from 10. 2 to 10.5 at 72 to 75% content of mineral particles -74 μm in size. The best performance of bacterium-acid leaching is reached at the concurrent feed of biomass and acid at the pulp slurry density of 50% and the medium temperature of 32–36 °C. The developed combination scheme and dressing technology for middling products of copper-molybdenum ore bulk flotation includes ore grinding, flotation of sulfide minerals, bacterium leaching of flotation tailings, liquid-phase extraction of dissolved copper and electrolysis of re-extraction column effluents.

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