Tungsten Scheelite Heated Flotation Method

Heated flotation method is the main tungsten scheelite processing method in China before 1970. It was found by the Soviet Union chemist Petrove in 1940, so it is also called Petrove method.

Heated flotation method principle is concentrating tungsten scheelite to 60%~70%, then heating to 90℃-95℃, add sodium silicic acid under high temperature and stirring for a long time. According to mineral’s different analysis speed of collecting agent, impurity will precipitate and tungsten will float. There are four steps as following:

1. Heating. Add sodium silicic acid as inhibitor, heat to 90℃-95℃, stir for a long time.

2. Use mineral’s different analysis speed for collecting agent on the surface, calcium containing mineral is inhibited. Inhibiting sequence is: quartz> silicate> calcite> apatite> molybdate> barite> tungsten scheelite.

3. Collecting. Collect tungsten scheelite, by diluting, reagent removal and concentration to obtain tungsten scheelite with content over 65%.

4. Scavenging. Process remained mineral powder from the first concentration again, the rest mineral subsidy then is sent to tungsten tailing storeroom.

Above are main steps of heated flotation method. Until now, tungsten scheelite basically turns into tungsten concentrate scheelite. In the real work, flotation process will be more complex. To save cost and make full use of resource, usually enterprises will process times of concentration and scavenging. Heated flotation method is a backward method. Its disadvantages are complex equipment, time consuming and need a lot of sodium silicic acid. It doesn’t mean that it is useless. For tungsten scheelite containing calcium and low grade, it is irreplaceable.

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