FTIR studies of xanthate adsorption on chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrite surfaces

The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra of sodium butyl xanthate, dibutyl dixanthogen, metal xanthate compounds and surfaces of chalcopyrite, pentlandite and pyrite treated with sodium butyl xanthate solution were systematically studied. The products of xanthate adsorpted on the three different minerals were characterized by comparing their FTIR spectra to those of dixanthogen and metal xanthate. Both metal xanthate and dixanthogen are formed on the surfaces of these minerals. However, the relative proportions of metal xanthate to dixanthogen on the minerals are different. In the cases of chalcopyrite and pentlandite, the quantity of metal xanthate is larger than that of dixanthogen. For pyrite, on the contrary, the quantity of dixanthogen is much greater than that of ferric xanthate. Therefore, the formation of dixanthogen is more essential for the flotation of pyrite.