The Possibility of Using Thioglycolic acid instead of sodium sulfide in the Molybdenum Enrichment Plant of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex

In this research the use of Thioglycolic Acid (TGA) as a copper and iron sulfides depressant instead of sodium sulfide in the Molybdenum Enrichment Plant of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex has been studied in laboratory scale. After determining and optimizing the main effective factors on the molybdenum recovery and copper depression, the flotation tests of rougher stage and seven cleaner stages were done subsequently and the variation of molybdenum recovery and copper depression resulted from two mentioned depressants were compared. It found that the depressing effect of TGA was better than sodium sulfide and resulted in high recovery of molybdenum. The use grades of impurities in the final concentrate found under standard ranges and were desirable. This reagent was found suitable environmentally, metallurgically, operationally and economically.