Effect of collectors, conditioning pH and gases in the separation of sphalerite from pyrite

摘要

The effect of collectors ,conditioning pH and gaseson the selective flotation of sphalerite from pyrite in the presenceof Cu(II) has been investigated .In the presence of ethylxanthate ,separation between the two sulfide minerals is onlyachieved at high pH values. Ethoxycarbonyl thionocarbamate andthiourea are as powerful collectors as xanthate for the flotationof copper-activated sphalerite but they are more selectivecollectors than xanthate against pyrite at alkaline pH values andespecially at more neutral pH values. Selectivity is improvedwhen oxygen is used as the conditioning gas .A copper-collectorcomplex is formed at the surface of both sphalerite and pyrite andits concentration reflects the flotation results.