Flotation behaviors and mechanisms of chalcopyrite and galena after cyanide treatment

Adsorbing tests between CN− and chalcopyrite or galena were conducted firstly, and then flotation tests of the two cyaniding minerals were investigated in butyl xanthate (BX) system. Results showed that the interaction between CN− and the two mineral surfaces were both chemical adsorption and can be described by the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. In the optimum condition of pH 6.5 and 4.0 mg/L BX, the recovery of cyaniding chalcopyrite and galena reached 82.1% and 63.9%, respectively. BX improved the hydrophobicity of the surfaces of the two minerals, although CN− reduced the contact angle on the surface of minerals. The inhibitory effect of CN− on chalcopyrite far outweighed galena. Electrostatic adsorption exists in the interaction between BX and the surface of galena after cyanide treatment in the pH range of 4.2-8.4, while the interactions between BX and the surface of chalcopyrite after cyanide treatment is chemical adsorption.