International Journal of Mineral Processing,27 (1989) 111-123 m

Elsevier SciencePublishersB.V., Amsterdam- Printed in The Netherlands

Flocculation of Sulfides and the Role of a

Complexing Agent in it

S. ACAR and P. SOMASUNDARAN

Henry Krumb Schoolof Mines, Columbia University, New York, N. ¥. 10027(U.S.A.
(ReceivedFebruary24, 1987;acceptedafter revision January 17, 1989)

ABgfRACT

Acar. S. and Somasundaran,P., 1989.Flocculation of sulfidesand the role of a complexingagent

in it. Int. J. Miner. Process.,27: 111-123.

Selectiveflocculation using polymers is one of the promising methods for the separation of
mineral fmes. In this paper.possibilities for selectiveflocculation of chalcopyriteand pentlandite
using polyacrylamideand polyethyleneoxide are examinedunder different experimental condi-
tions. Selectiveflocculation testswith synthetic mineral mixtures showedthe selectivity to depend
on polymer type and concentration, and the presenceof dissolvedspeciesfrom either mineral.
The dissolvedspeciesare found to interact with minerals to be treated and reagents,resulting in
non-selectiveflocculation. The interference by dissolvedspeciescan be eliminated by using a
complexingagentsuchas diphenylguanidinethat interacts specificallywith copperminerals.In-
teractions betweenmany componentsare possiblein these systemsand these are examined in
order to identify the governingmechanisms.

INTRODUCTION

Selectiveflocculation using polymers is a promising method for beneficiat-

ing mineral fines [1,2J. However, the results obtained for the selective floc-
culation of natural ores or the synthetic mixtures do not often correlate with
those from single mineral tests [3 J. This can be due to the interactions of
dissolvedmineral specieswith the componentminerals of the systemresulting
in alterations of their surfaceproperties [4-8 J. Such interference can be con-
trolled by the addition of appropriate complexing reagents [9-13 J. Selection
of a complexing reagent dependson its specificity towards a particular metal
ion in the interfacial region [14J.
It has been reported that selectiveflocculation of hematite from a mixture
of it with quartz is possibleusing polyacrylic acid in the pH range from 3 to 9
in the absenceof dissolvedferric ions [5 J. Addition of sufficient amounts o-f
EDTA or KF was found to prevent quartz activation by iron speciesand thus
maintain selective flocculation of hematite. Heerama et al. reported that the

0301-7516/89/$03.50 @ 1989 Elsevier Science Publishers B. V

112

presenceofCa2+ and Mg2+ ions in iron ore pulps results in nonselectivefloc-

culation of iron oxide from silicious gangue [6]. Ethylenediaminetetracetate
(EDTA), sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) and sodium hexametaphosphate
(DHMP) complexing reagentswere tested to control Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions
present in the pulp. It has also been reported that specifically adsorbing ions
such as Cu2+, can reversethe zeta potential of quartz, hence enhancing its
flocculation [7,8]. Such interactions can be expectedto reducethe selectivity
in flocculation of minerals.
In this paper, flocculation characteristics of natural chalcopyrite and pen-
tlandite in salt solutions and in mineral supernatants with and without the
addition of polymers and a complexing reagent are discussed.

EXPERIMENTAL

Materials

Natural chalcopyrite (Ward's Natural ScienceEstablishment Inc.) and nat-

ural pentlandite (International Nickel Company) particles of lessthan 20 .urn
were usedin the present study. Surface areasof chalcopyrite and pentlandite
as measuredby the H.E.T. nitrogen gasadsorption method were 1.22and 1.43
m2/g, respectively.Mineral sampleswere stored in teflon bottles and kept un-
der nitrogen atmosphere.

Polymers

Nonionic polyacrylamide was synthesizedusing a radiation-induced heter-

ogeneouspolymerization technique. Molecular weight of the samplewasfound
to be 2.10 [6]. The polyethylene oxide samplewas obtained from Union Car-
bide Corporation and had a molecular weight of 5.10.

Complexingreagent

Diphenylguanidine (DPG) purchasedfrom Morton Thiocol Inc., was used

as received.
Inorganic reagents.Fisher certified HCl and NaOH were used to adjust the
pH of the suspensions.Amend Drug and Chemical Company reagent grade
NaCl (99.96%) was usedto prepare 3-10-2 kmolfm3 salt solutions usedin all
the experiments.
Water. Triple distilled water with a specific conductivity of about 10-6
Jlmhosfcm prepared in a quartz still was usedfor preparing all the solutions. ,\
 113

METHODS

Flocculation.For flocculation tests, 6 g of 20 .ummineral sampleswere equi-

librated for 3 h in 200 ml of3'10-2 kmol/m3 NaCI solutions at the desiredpH
in teflon bottles on a wrist action shaker. In the caseof tests involving com-
plexing agents,the desiredamount was addedto the pulp before it was equili'-
brated for 3 h. Flocculations tests were conducted in 250 cm3 beakers (with
baffles) at 3 weight percent. In the caseof tests involving polymers,the desired
amount was added to the pulp and further conditioned for 3 min by stirring
with a I-inch diameter 3-blade propeller at 1200rpm. The mineral was then
allowed to settle under gravity for 15 s and the top 50% of the suspensionwas
withdrawn using a specially designedsuction device.The pH of the pulp was
measuredat the end of each test. The two portions were then filtered, dried
and weighed The percentageexcesssolids settling in 15 s was taken as a mea-
sure of the flocculation of the minerals. Chemical analysis of dried residues
was conductedin the caseof flocculated mineral mixtures.
Preparation of mineral supernatants.The mineral sample was conditioned
for three hours in 3-10-2 kmol/m3 NaCI solution at room temperature and
desiredpH in 250 cm3teflon bottles on a wrist action shaker. The suspension
wasthen filtered through pretreated - with the samesupernatant - # 44 What-
man filter paper and the supernatant was stored in teflon bottles and used in
lessthan a week.

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

Flocculation

The flocculation responseof natural chalcopyrite and pentlandite in the

presenceof nonionic polyacrylamideand polyethyleneoxide polymerswas first
studied in the unmixed mode under different conditions of pH and polymer
concentration. The results given in Fig. 1 show chalcopyrite and pentlandite
to flocculate in polyacrylamide solutions at pH 7.0 with a slight decreasein
flocculation at higher polymer dosage.The effect of pH on the flocculation of
chalcopyrite and pentlandite is shown in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively. In the
absenceof PAM, the flocculation (i.e. coagulation) of chalcopyrite was found
to sharply decreasewith increasein pH. This is attributed to the increasein
the negativepotential of chalcopyrite with pH [20]. On the other hand, excel-
lent flocculation of chalcopyrite was obtained in 20 ppm PAM solutions espe-
ciallyat higher pH values (Fig. 2). Addition of the sameamount of PAM to
pentlandite suspensionincreasedflocculation from 30% to about 85% under
natural pH conditions. However, with increasein pH flocculation decreased
gradually, probably due to the formation of nickelous hydroxide on the surface
114

0 10 20 30 40
POLYMER CONC.. ppm
Fig. 1.Chalcopyriteand pentlandite flocculationsas a function of polyacrylamideconcentration.

100 .:~::::=~~~ I
a -.[
w ~
...I
l- 0 0 ppm Polymer
I- m- 6. 20ppm PAM
w
'" 0 5ppm PEO
'"
a 3xl0-2kmol/m' NoCI
...I
40
0 8
'"

If ~ --8-- --o-~
20

°l~t~~ -L---
12

pH pH
Fig. 2. Chalcopyriteflocculation as a function of pH with and without PAM or PEO.

Fig. 3. Pentlandite flocculation asa function of pH with and without PAM or PEO.

of pentlandite. In the absenceof PAM, zetapotential of pentlandite is about F

20 mV in the completepH rangeproviding somecoagulation of it (Fig. 3).
It is seenfrom the single mineral flocculation tests that both minerals, chal-
copyrite and pentlandite, are well flocculated by polyacrylamide with some
measurabledifference in the alkaline pH range. Since the flocculation selec-
tivity cannot be expectedto be high in this case,tests were conducted next
with polyethylene oxide (PEO) which is partly hydrophobic. It has been re-
ported in the literature that PEa preferentially flocculates the hydrophobic
minerals [15-17]. PEa adsorbsby hydrogen bonding of the ether groups in
addition to hydrophobic in~raction of the -CH2.CH2- units with the hydro-
 115

0 CHAU:OPYRITE I PEO
to PENTLAHDITE I PEO

C 801 3.IO-2tmol/m3 HaCI

I P--.,.
I&! 1 pH: 7.0
-'
l-
I
I-
I&!
U)

uo 601
c
::; 401
0
uo
Jf
20~

u 10 20 30 40
POLYMER CONC., ppm

Fig. 4. Chalcopyriteand pentlanditeflocculationsasa function of polyethyleneoxideconcentration.

phobic sites on the mineral. Therefore it is expectedthat partly hydrophobic

chalcopyrite could be flocculated by PEG.
Flocculation results obtained using PEG at pH 7.0are shownin Fig. 4. Max-
imum chalcopyrite flocculation was obtained at pH 7 with 5 ppm PEG addi-
tion. However, pentlandite did not respond to the addition of PEG even for
polymer concentrations as high as 40ppm at the samepH level (Fig. 4). The
effect of pH was tested at the 5 ppm PEG level. The results shown in Figs. 2
and 3 indicate that chalcopyrite is flocculated by PEG in the complete pH
range,whereaspentlandite remainedunflocculated under the sameconditions.
It is thus clear that only the naturally hydrophobic chalcopyrite, and not the
pentlandite, is flocculated by PEG.
Sincepentlandite did not flocculate with PEG, possibilities for selectivefloc-
culation were explored using 50: 50 mixture of chalcopyrite and pentlandite.
While studying mixed mineral systems,it is necessaryto take into account
mineral entrapment in the flocs as well as heterocoagulationresulting from
electrostatic attraction betweenoppositely chargedparticles and the effect of
soluble speciesproduced by either mineral. The results obtained for mixed
mineral flocculation are given in Figs. 5 and 6.
Fig. 5 showsthe effect of PEG addition on the amount of chalcopyrite-pen-
tlandite mixtures settled at three different pH values. Flocculation obtained
in the absenceof PEG can be considered to result from simple coagulation
inducedby the dissolvedspecies.Addition of PEG led to increasedflocculation
of the chalcopyrite-pentlandite mixture. Although chalcopyrite recovery is
found to increasewith increasingpH the assayof it in the presenceand in the
absenceof PEG remained the same indicating no enrichment of chalcopyrite
due to PEG addition (Fig. 6a). As seenfrom Fig. 6b pentlandite recoveryalso
increasedin the presenceof PEG throughout the pH range studied and toe

~
116

0
1&1
..J
~
~
1&1
II)
II)
0
;:j
0
II)
If

4 . 8 10 12
pH
Fig. 5. Flocculationof chalcopyriteand pentlandite mixtures asa function of pH with and without
PEO.

assay remainedpracticallythe sameagainsuggesting

no enrichmentdue to
PEG addition.
A possiblereasonfor the lack of selectivity can be heterocoagulationof chal-
copyrite with pentlandite, however,this is not the casein the acid and natural
pH regions [20]. Besides heterocoagulation,a major reason for the lack of
selectivity can be the activation of pentlandite or deactivation of chalcopyrite
 117

by dissolvedspeciessuch as CU2+,Ni2+, Fe2+and 82- and their hydroxy spe-

cies from the minerals present in the system.It has been reported that specif-
ically adsorbing ions can changeand/or even reversethe zeta potential of a
mineral and thereby causeheterocoagulationaswell asenhancedpolymer floc-
culation [7,8,21]. In order to investigatethe effect of dissolvedmineral cations
on the flocculation of chalcopyrite and pentlandite, tests were next conducted
in mineral supernatants in the absenceof any polymer.
The effect of the pentlandite supernatant on the flocculation characteristics
of chalcopyrite is illustrated in Fig. 7. It can be seenthat chalcopyrite is dis-
persedby the supernatant in the acid pH range.Above about pH 6.0, however,
increasedflocculation of chalcopyrite is obtained in the pentlandite superna-
tant. On the other hand, pentlandite flocculation is enhancedin the presence
of chalcopyrite supernatant throughout the pH range studied (Fig. 8).

Fig. 7. Flocculation of cbalcopyri~ in the presenceand in the absenceof pentlandi~ supernatant.

2 4 6 8 10 12 14
pH
Fig. 8. Flocculation ofpentlandite in the presenceand in the absenceof chalcopyritesupernatant.
118

Dissolution and precipitation/ readsorptionof mineral speciesin mixed min-

eral systemsis consideredto be a major reasonfor the observedeffects. This
was further confirmed by electrophoretic mobility and by electron spectros-
copy for chemical analysis (ESCA) results [14,27,28). In the presenceof su-
pernatants zeta potentials of chalcopyrite and pentlandite are found to be re-
ducedconsiderablydue to the adsorption or surfaceprecipitation of dissolved
ions and their hydroxy specieson the mineral surfaces.ESCA spectrum of
chalcopyrite conditioned in pentlandite supernatant and washed free of the
supernatant showedthat nickel ions can be found on the surfaceof chalcopyr-
ite. Similarly, the spectrum of pentlandite conditioned in chalcopyrite super-
natant and washedalso showedpresenceof copperon the pentlandite surface.
The extent of dissolution of chalcopyrite and pentlandite wasdeterminedby
analyzing supernatants at different pH values using Direct Coupling Plasma
Spectrometry (DCP). The results are given in Tables I and II.
The aboveresults clearly show that the amount of dissolved speciesis sig-
nificant enough under certain pH conditions to have an effect on the floccu-
lation. In order to minimize the effect of the dissolvedspecieson selectivity in
flocculation, an attempt was made next to complex them using
diphenylguanidine.

TABLE I

Chemicalanalysisof chalcopyrite supernatant

3
4.3 (natural)
7
9
11
12.4

TABLE II

Chemicalanalysisof pentlandiu supernatant

3
4.1 (natural)
7
9
11
12.5
 119

Effect of diphenyiguanidine on flocculation

Diphenylguanidine (DPG) has been extensively used in the flotation sepa-

ration of INCO matte, which consists of CU2Sand Ni3S2'due to its unusual
selectivity for copper minerals (22-25]. Basedon this information, the effect
of DPG on the flocculation of chalcopyrite and pentlandite was tested.
The effect of addition of complexing agent diphenylguanidine to the natural
chalcopyrite and pentlandite suspensionsin the presenceand in the absence
of PEG is shown in Figs. 9 and 10. In these figures flocculation power*l (26]
of the reagentis plotted as a function of pH at different dosages.
Addition ofDPG to the chalcopyrite suspensionduring conditioning caused
dispersion of the system at pH < 5 at the concentration levels of 10-3 kmol/
m3, 10-4 kmol/m3 and 10-6 kmol/m3 (Fig. 9). Above pH 5, addition of 10-4
kmol/m3 DPG increased the chalcopyrite flocculation significantly. In the
presenceof PEG the dispersion effect of 10-4 kmol/m3 DPG is absent at acid
pH region. Furthermore, flocculation power of PEG is also absent in the nat-
ural and alkaline pH ranges.These results clearly suggestthe DPG and PEG
havea significant combinedeffect on the chalcopyrite flocculation. In contrast
to the above,pentlandite suspensiondid not respond to the addition of the

108,. 100 0-

80

eo:
80
...
, """",
60

~ 40 a: 40 ~, ..6
'"
~ ~...~:~~ III
~
f 20
'. ~ 20
z
z
0
~
u
I
'b-o !2
I-
0
C ' C
..I-20! ..J -20
~
u ' CHALCOPYRITE ~
CHALCOPYRITE
u
u
8_.,,: 0 -40 A 10~mot/m3 DP6
..I
... """; ' 0 1O-~mol/m3 DPG ..J
...
6 10-4kmoll m3 DPG . ~ppm PEO + lo-4kmol/lf!' DP6
~60i -60
0 10-6kmol/m3 DPG . ~ ppM PEO
-en -80

-100""'" 100""'"
2 4 6 8 10 12 14 pH 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 pH

Q b
Fig. 9. Flocculation of chalcopyrite in the presenceof: (a) DPG; and (b) DPG and PEG.

*lFlocculation power= (Po-P,)/Po. where:Po=the mass (g) of solid in the top 50% of the su-
pernatant; P,= the mass (g) of solid in the top 50% of the supernatantwhen a flocculant is used;
+ 100%correspondsto the complete flocculation and -100% correspondsto the completedis-
persion of the suspension.

~
 120

PENTLANDITE
6 lo-4kmol/m3 DPG
E
'" a lo-8kmol/m3 bpG
~
0
Go

0
Z
...0--0 ~
~::::::::;:;~~z
t:
c
..I
~
U
U
0
..I.
-/
...

.. .. .
L c~.~".i ~.I~
-100' -
10 12 pH

100,.. PENTLANOITE

.~:::~::1~~~~;..
. 6 10-4.mol/m3 OPG
8:
W 20 ~ .. ~ppRl PEO
.
0
Go
I 5pp.. PEO+l0-4.MOV..3 OPG
Z
2-
... u
., ",
c
oJ
~
C.)
C.)
0
oJ -20
...

-tOO'
2 4, ... ~
10
.
12'"
b
Fit. 10.Flocculation of pentlandite in the p~ of: (a) DPG; and (b) DPG and PEO.

sameconcentrations ofDPG (Fig. 10). There is also no effect of the presence

of PEa along with D PG on the flocculation of pentlandite.
The aboveresults suggestedpossible selectiveaction by DPG in chalcopyr-
ite-pentlandite mixtures. This was tested by conducting selectiveflocculation
tests with synthetic mixtures of chalcopyrite and pentlandite. It can be seen
from Fig. 11 that flocculation of the mixture is enhancedby the presenceof
DPG and PEa together, particularly in the acid pH region. The effect of the
dissolvedspeciesis suppressedin this pH range by the presenceof DPG. The
recoveryand assayof chalcopyrite is found to increasefrom about 70%to 90%
and from 50% to about 60%, respectively, in the presenceof DPG and PEa
together throughout the pH range studied (Fig. 12a). On the other hand, the
recoveryand assayof pentlandite are reducedcomparedto the results obtained
when only PEa is present (seeFigs. 6b and 12b). From the comparisonof the
results in Figs. 6a and 6b and with those in 12a and 12b, it can be concluded
 100.
CHALCOPYRITE + PENTLANOITE
3a10-z.mol/",sNaCl
80 0 Opp", PEO
Q 6 5 pplR PEO+ 10-4 01/.' OPG
W
-J
l-
I- 60
W
(II
(II
Q 40
~
0
(II
# 20

O' I I I I I
2 4 6 8 10 12 14
pH
Fig. 11.Flocculation of chalcopyriu and pentlandite mixture.

100.~
CHALC<FYRITE + PEHTLANDITE
3.10-2_1/..3 HoC1
'-~~
"'~~-_. ..¥
. 0 Oppm PEO
. A ~ PPIIIPEG+ l0-4kMOl/m3DPG

80
",*>
l- ... 801I 110
E
>- ,...A,
, II :. ..-
0 I
I
I '"

./'" ":
z t:
~ i t -< 0
-' z
~ I . ..-
~ z j
% ... I ...
... 60
~-.~ ~.~- i
A.
soj "6 60 z
'"
A.
II It
.
~ : - )
.
.
~
~
...
I
8- .--c:;--t
~
..
c
~ > ..
... I .
. 0
u I ..
~ 40
CHALCOPYRITE + PEHTLANOITE
!40 w
~ 40 '\ "'-~"'-" 40
c

3 . 10-2_1/,.3 HaO
.0 OPtNDPEO
.6 5ppm PEO+I0-4"'al/m30PG

20' I I I I I 120 10- .,'.. ,1,..,' . . .m

2 4 6 . 10 12 14 2 4 .. .. R 14
Q ... b
pH

Fig. 12. Recovery and...y of: (a) chalcopyrite; and (b) pentlandire.

that enhancedenrichment of chalcopyriteis obtainedwhen 10-4 kmol/m3 DPG

and 5 ppm PEa are employedtogether.
Lack of selectivity in the flocculation of mixed sulfides is found to be due to
interactions of dissolvedmineral specieswith the particle surface.This is sup-
ported by the resultsof flocculation tests in mineral supernatantswhich showed
that while chalcopyrite is dispersedby the pentlandite supernatant, pentlan-
dite is flocculated by the chalcopyrite supernatant. Evidence for the interac-
tion of dissolvedmineral specieswith particle surfaceswas obtained from the
electrokinetic and ESCA studies [14,27,28]. Electrokinetic studies with chal-
122

copyrite and pentlandite showedthat zeta potentials of these minerals are re-
duced significantly by the presenceof the other's supernatant [27]. Surface
chemical analysis of the chalcopyrite sample treated with pentlandite super-
natant and washedshoweda nickel peak along with copper peaks [28]. Simi-
larly, ESCA spectrum of pentlandite showeda copper peak when the former
mineral was treated with chalcopyrite supernatant and washed.

SUMMARY

( 1) Single mineral flocculation tests showedthat both natural chalcopyrite

and pentlandite are flocculated with polyacrylamide polymer. Natural chal-
copyrite is also flocculated with polyethylene oxide, but not pentlandite.
(2) Polyethylene oxide polymer may be usedto flocculate chalcopyrite from
its mixture with pentlandite. Selectivity of the processmay be enhancedby
modifying the polymer adsorption using complexing reagentsand by changing
the medium pH and temperature.
(3) Dissolved mineral speciescan affect the flocculation process.The re-
sults of flocculation tests with binary mixtures showednonselectivity of chal-
copyrite que to possible activation of pentlandite by dissolved species.The
evidenceof this is seenfrom the results of the flocculation tests in the presence
of supernatants. It is to be noted that in these casesenhancedselectivity of
chalcopyrite is obtained when complexing reagent diphenylguanidine is em-
ployed along with the polymer.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The authors acknowledge the National Science Foundation (MSM-86-17183,

CBT -86-15524), the Inco Inc. and the Union Carbide Corporation for support
of this work.

REFERENC~

1 Read,A.D. and Hollick,C.T., 1976.Miner. Sci. Eng.,8 (3).

2 MOUdgil,B.M., 1981.The Role of Polymer-Surfactant Interactions in the Interfacial Pro-
cesses.Doctorate ResearchProposal.Columbia University, New York.
3 Somasundaran,P., 1977.In: P. Somasundaranand N. Arbiter (Editors), Beneficiation of
Mineral Fines, Problemsand ResearchNeeds.p. 406.
4 Attia, Y.A.I., 1977.Developmentof a selectiveflocculation processfor a complexcopperore.
Int. J. Miner. Process.,4: 209-225.
5 Somasundaran,P., 1978. Selective flocculation of fines. Presentedat Symposium on the
PhysicalChemistry of Mineral-ReagentInteractions in Sulfide Flotation, CollegePark, April
6-7,1978.
6 Heerema,R.H., Lipp, R.J. and Iwasaki, 1.,1979. Complexation of calcium iron in selective
flocculation of iron ore. Presentedat the Annual AIME Meeting, New Orleans,Febr. 21,
1979.
 123

7 Critchley, J .K. and Jewitt, S.R., 1979.The effect of Cu+ + ions on zeta potential of quartz.
Trans. lost. Min. Metall (Sect. C: Miner. Process.Extr. Metall) 88: C57-59.
8 Drzymala,J. and Fuerstenau,D.W., 1981.Selectiveflocculation of hematite in the hematite-
quartz-ferric ion-polyacrylic acid system, 1. Activation and deactivation of quartz. Int. J.
Miner. Process.,8: 265-277.
9 Heerema,R.H. and Iwasaki, I., 1980.Chemicalprecipitation of alkaline earth cations and its
effect on flocculation and flotation of quartz. Trans. Am.lnst. Min. Metall. Eng., 168:1510-
1516.
10 Rubio,J. and Matijevic, E., 1979.Interactions of metal hydrousoxideswith chelating agents,
1.B-FeOOH-EDTA. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 68 (3).
11 Eisenlauer,J. and Matijevic, E., 1980.Interactions of metal hydrous oxideswith chelating
agents,II. a-Fe203-low molecularand polymeric hydroxamic acid species.J. Colloid Inter-
faceSci., 75 (1).
12 Catone,D.L. and Matijevic, E., 1976.Interactions of silver halides with metal chelatesand
chelating agents,II. The effectsofNi(2) and Co(3) complexes.J. Colloid Interface Sci., 55
(2).
13 Elliott, H.A. and Huang, C.P., 1979.The adsorption characteristicsof Cu(2) in the presence
of chelating agents.J. Colloid Interface Sci., 70 (1).
14 Acar, S., 1985.Interactions BetweenPolymer, Complexing Reagentand DissolvedMineral
Speciesin SelectiveFlocculation Systems.D.E.Sc Dissertation, ColumbiaUniversity, Henry
Krumb Schoolof Mines.
15 Union CarbideCorporation., "Polyox", FloccuiantsTrade Information.
16 Rubio, J., 1981.The flocculation propertiesof polyethyleneoxide. Colloids Surf., 3: 79-95.
17 Rubio, J. and Kitchener, J.A., 1976.The mechanism of adsorption of polyethylene oxide
flocculant on silica. J. Colloid Interface Sci., 57: 132-142.
18 Trahar, W.J. and Warren, L.J., 1976.The flotability of very fine particles - a review. Int. J.
Miner. Process.,3: 103-131.
19 Fuerstenau,M.C. and Sabacky,B.J., 1981.On the natural flotability of sulfides.Int. J. Miner.
Process.,8: 79-84.
20 Acar, S. and Somasundaran,P., 1985.Effect of dissolvedmineral specieson flocculation of
sulfides. Presentedat the 114th Annual Meeting of SME-AIME, Febr. 24-28, 1985,New
York, Minerals and Metallurgical Processing,Vol. 2, No.2, pp. 231-235.
21 Critchley, J.K. and Straker, P., 1981.Flotation of nickel sulphide and zeta potentials in a
nickel(2)-xanthate system.Trans. lost. Min. Metall (Sect. C: Miner. Process.,Extr. Me-
tall.) 80: 44-45.
22 Tipman, N.R., Agar, G.E,. and Pare, L., 1976.Flotation chemistry of the INCO matte sepa-
ration process.In: M.C. Fuerstenau (Editor), Flotation: A.M. Gaudin Memorial Volume, I,
pp. 528-548.
23 Cynamid's Nitrogen Chemicals Digest, IV, 1950.The Chemistry of Guanidine. American
Cynamid Company,Stamford, Conn.
24 Boldt, J .R., Jr. and Queneau,P ., The Winning of Nickel Longman S., CanadaLtd.
25 Sproule,W.K., Harwurt, G.A. and Rose,E., 1945.U.S. Patent 2, 432,456.
26 UsOni,L., Rinelli, G. and Marabini, A.M., 1968.Selectiveproperties of flocculantsand pos-
sibilities of their use in flotation of fine minerals. In: 8th Int. Miner. Process.Congr., Len-
ingrad (Leningrad: Institut Mekhanobr 1969),Vol 1, pp. 514-533 (in Russian); paper D13,
14pp. (in English).
27 Acar, S. and Somasundaran,P., 1989.Effect of DissolvedMineral Specieson the Electroki-
netic Behavior of Sulfides.To be published.
28 Acar, S. and Somasundaran,P., in prep. ESCA Characterizationof Sulfide Mineral Surfaces
in Flocculation Systems.