Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
6673601 Minerals Engineering 2013 7 Pages PDF
Abstract
Gypsum supersaturated process water has been shown to have an adverse effect on the flotation of sphalerite minerals. This study probes the mechanism of such effect by determining the uptake of copper and xanthate on sphalerite in gypsum supersaturated water using zeta potential distribution measurement, atomic absorption spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy and quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation. Our results indicate that the supersaturation of water by gypsum retards the adsorption of copper and hence the sequence xanthate adsorption on sphalerite. The retardation of copper and xanthate adsorption on sphalerite is also observed by the addition of 800 ppm calcium. The adsorption of calcium is identified to compete with copper species for the reactive surface sites of the sphalerite, resulting in the reduction in copper and xanthate uptake and hence flotation recovery of sphalerite.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemical Engineering Chemical Engineering (General)
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