Influence of backwater on bulk flotation of a porphyry copper-molybdenum ore

In order to analyze the influence of backwater on bulk flotation of a porphyry coppermolybdenum ore, flotation tests were carried out to study the floatability of metallic minerals in the water containing different constituents. The results showed that the concentrate yield increase dramatically, and the floatability of copper and molybdenum decline significantly under the condition of backwater flotation, however, the pyrite is strongly inhibited that the high concentrations of calcium and APAM in backwater are the main causes. The slurry viscosity tends to rise with the cumulation of flotation reagents and APAM in backwater, which lead to the loss of fine-grained minerals wrapped in floccules.