The Anaconda Company

John A Stephens

Martin C Kuhn

Allen D Rovig

Michael J Noakes

The process of sulfidizing an acid copper leach pulp prior to flotation recovery of the copper therein comprising adding to and admixing with said pulp in a reaction zone an ionizable sulfide material, said sulfide material being added in an amount proportional to the amount of copper passing through said zone so that the sulfidization reaction is completed within about 30 seconds and the pulp leaving said zone has an aqueous copper concentration of from about 0.014 to 0.024 gram per liter and a reactor for such process comprising elongated tubular means, shaft means mounted in said tubular means, and a plurality of blade members attached to said shaft, said blade members being spaced along said shaft at approximately 30.degree. pitch angles relative to the axial direction of the shaft and there being a reverse pitch direction of certain of said blades at predetermined distances along the length of said shaft.

Sulfidization reaction

The process of sulfidizing an acid copper leach pulp prior to flotation recovery of the copper therein comprising adding to and admixing with said pulp in a reaction zone an ionizable sulfide material, said sulfide material being added in an amount proportional to the amount of copper passing through said zone so that the sulfidization reaction is completed within about 30 seconds and the pulp leaving said zone has an aqueous copper concentration of from about 0.014 to 0.024 gram per liter and a reactor for such process comprising elongated tubular means, shaft means mounted in said tubular means, and a plurality of blade members attached to said shaft, said blade members being spaced along said shaft at approximately 30.degree. pitch angles relative to the axial direction of the shaft and there being a reverse pitch direction of a certain of said blades at predetermined distances along the length of said shaft.

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Tucson, AZ, United States of America

John A Stephens