Photometric dispersion analysis (PDA), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and zeta potential measurements were used to study the roles of polyethylene oxide (PEO) and xanthate in sulfide flotation. When a high molecular weight PEO was added to a sulfide flotation pulp, it flocculated both sulfide and non-sulfide minerals to form large hetero-aggregates. However, with subsequent addition of xanthate, the sulfide mineral particles broke away from the aggregates. This led to the disintegration of the large hetero-aggregates and the formation of smaller and separate homo-aggregates of sulfide and non-sulfide minerals. This process can be utilized to lower the hydraulic entrainment of ultrafine gangue minerals in sulfide ore flotation.
展开▼
