Molybdenum and emeralds from Brazil

In Brazil, the main occurrence of Molybdenum is in emeralds, in the extraction it is possible to verify large molybdenum spots present in emeralds, the concentration is carried out through flotation, after grinding!

Flotation is a common technique used in the separation of minerals based on their physical and chemical properties. It is often used in the mining industry to separate valuable minerals from unwanted minerals. In the case of extracting molybdenum from emerald rejects containing molybdenum inclusions, flotation can be a suitable approach.

Here's how the flotation process can be applied for molybdenum extraction:

1. Material preparation: Emerald rejects containing molybdenum inclusions are crushed to produce a particle size suitable for the flotation process.
2. Grinding: The particles are then ground to ensure that the material is of the appropriate size and shape for the flotation process.
3. Addition of reagents: Specific chemical reagents such as collectors and frothers are added to the mineral pulp. The collector is designed to attach to molybdenum particles, making them hydrophobic, while the frother helps create stable foam.
4. Flotation: The mineral pulp is agitated, and air is injected into the mixture, creating air bubbles. Hydrophobic molybdenum particles adhere to the air bubbles and rise to the surface of the flotation cell, forming a foam.
5. Concentrate collection: The foam that forms on the surface is collected and contains the molybdenum particles.
6. Rejection of waste: The residue, which does not adhere to the air bubbles, remains in the mineral pulp and is discarded.
7. Treatment of the concentrate: The collected foam containing molybdenum goes through additional processing steps such as filtration and drying to obtain molybdenum in a more concentrated and usable form.

It's important to note that flotation is a delicate process that requires specific adjustments of reagents and operating conditions to achieve efficient molybdenum recovery. Additionally, the exact composition of emerald rejects and the presence of other impurities can affect the effectiveness of the flotation process. Therefore, it is advisable to consult a specialist in mineral processing or metallurgy to carry out flotation properly and efficiently.