Flotation of sulfide ores uding chelating agents

Abstract

Flotation tests were conducted in a Hallimond tube on chalcopyrite, sphalerite and galena with cupferron-fuel oil and oxine-fuel oil as collectors. The necessity of the fuel oil was verified by conducting experiments without fuel oil. The concentration of the reagents and pH were studied as variables. The surface compounds formed on the surface of chalcopyrite after the treatment with collectors were analysed by infra red spectra. From the results it was found that reagents seemed to exhibit almost the same properties as they did in aqueous solutions. The flotstion tests were extended to separate chalcopyrite from silica gangue and from chalcopyrite- sphalerite-galena mixture in a Dorr-Oliver laboratory flotation cell. The results show the possible separation of chalcopyrite from silica gangue which can be comparable to the results of xanthate system.