A new synthetic chelating collector for the flotation of oxidized-lead mineral

A new synthetic reagent DPTUHP [diphenyl α-(3-phenylthioureido) hexylphosphonate] containing a hydrocarbon chain nonpolar group, a thioureido, and a phosphonate easter chelating group, has proven to be an effective collector for the flotation of cerussite mineral. The synthetic method utilized the Mannich-type reaction of an N-monosubstituted thiourea, an aldehyde, and triphenyl phosphate in glacial acetic acid solution. The experimental results of flotation of the cerussite mineral show that the collector has stronger collecting ability and higher selectivity in a neutral and a slightly alkaline medium, especially in the pulp of pH=8. Using the measurements by infrared spectroscopy (IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) of the cerussite mineral, the collector, as well as the cerussite treated with the collector, the flotation mechanism of cerussite has been discussed. It is concluded that the adsorption of collector on cerussite is a chemical adsorption through the electron donor atoms of the collector chelating the Pb (II) of cerussite to form chelate.