Adsorption of thiol collectors on Chalcopyrite

Abstract

Adsorption of diethyldithiocarbamate and ethylxanthate on chalcopyrite mineral surface was studied by static bed adsorption method. The qualitative nature of surface species was examined by selective solvent extraction and UV-visible spectroscopic technique.The results clearly indicate that the interaction between surface metal ions and thiols is chemical in nature. As a result of chemical interaction of ligand molecules, metal ions from mineral surface are dislodged from the lattice and precipitates of metal-ligand complexes were formed on the surface. Surface complexes were found to be identical to that of bulk complexes with metal-to-ligand ratio of 1:2.