The interaction of N-butoxypropyl-N′-ethoxycarbonylthiourea with sulfide minerals: Scanning electrochemical microscopy, diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, and thermodynamics

- An oily alkoxyalkyl thiourea BOPECTU was first introduced as flotation surfactant.
- The adsorption mechanism of BOPECTU was studied by SECM, DRIFT and thermodynamics.
- The values of ΔG (303 K) and ΔH were −31.02 kJ mol−1 and −27.71 kJ  mol−1, respectively.
- BOPECTU might chemisorb on chalcopyrite surfaces by the form of CuS and CuN bonds.
- BOPECTU exhibited stronger affinity to chalcopyrite than to sphalerite or pyrite.