This study investigates the optimized recovery of platinum group metals (PGMs), particularly platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd), together with associated base metals from UG2 ore through an integrated mineralogical–statistical approach. Comprehensive characterization using X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) established ore composition, textural features, and PGM distribution, revealing Ni (0.28%), Cu (0.04%), Zn (0.04%), Pb (0.06%), and major gangue components Si (17.65%), Fe (13.33%), and Cr (7.37%). ICP-OES further quantified 1.18 g/t Pt, 1.41 g/t Pd, and 0.05 g/t Au in the run-of-mine sample. These mineralogical insights informed the design of flotation experiments using Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Central Composite Design (CCD), enabling systematic evaluation of dosages, pulp chemistry, and operating conditions. Optimal flotation parameters—collector dosages of 200–900 g/t, depressant dosages of 400–900 g/t, pulp pH of 8.5–9.5, and a flotation time of ~10 min—yielded recoveries ranging from 6.8% to 23.9% (Ni), 3.5% to 100% (Cu), 9.5% to 100% (Zn) and averaging 80.1% (Pb). Post-flotation ICP-OES confirmed significant enrichment of PGMs, with Pt reaching 12.00–16.50 g/t, Pd reaching 11.60–15.10 g/t, and Au reaching up to 0.47 g/t under optimal conditions. By explicitly coupling mineralogical characterization with CCD-based optimization, this work demonstrates a robust framework for enhancing UG2 flotation performance, offering practical pathways for improved economic viability, reagent efficiency, and sustainable resource utilization.
Baloyi et al. (Sat,) studied this question.