Evaluation of flotation collectors for copper sulfides and pyrite, I. Common sulfhydryl collectors

Abstract

Using the criteria of recovery and rate, the flotation of the principal copper sulfides and pyrite with sulfhydryl collectors was found to follow the pattern: xanthate > dithiophosphate = thionocarbamate = xanthogen ethyl formate > dixanthogen. Flotation rate was found to be a more sensitive parameter than recovery; especially as near-ultimate recovery is approached. The differing response of these five minerals to the anionic xanthate or dithiophosphate collectors was found to correspond to the mineral semiconductor type. As the pH increases from pH 5 to 10.5 both recovery and rate were generally found to decrease with all the sulphydryl collectors except dixanthogen. © 1987.