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Effect of Organic Depressant LIGNOSULFONATE CALCIUM en Separation of Chalcopyrite From Pyrite
Effect of Organic Depressant LIGNOSULFONATE CALCIUM en Separation of Chalcopyrite From Pyrite
(School of Resources Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, China)
Abstract: In order to selectively separate chalcopyrite from pyrite,the effect of organic depressant lignosulfonate calcium (LSC) on
the flotation separation of chalcopyrite from pyrite was investigated by flotation tests. The depression mechanism was studied by
Fourier-transform-infrared (FTIR) analysis. The flotation tests of single mineral show that LSC can depress the flotation of pyrite in a
certain pH range, but it has little effect on chalcopyrite flotation. Flotation separation of a mixture of chalcopyrite and pyrite can be
completed to obtain a copper concentrate grade up to 24.73% with a recovery of 80.36%. IR analysis shows that LSC and butyl
xanthate compete in absorption on pyrite surface, and there exists an LSC characteristic peak on pyrite surface. There is little
adsorption of LSC on chalcopyrite.
Foundation item: Project(2006AA06Z120) supported by High-Technology Research and Development Program of China; Project(1343-74334000028)
supported by the Graduate Student Education Innovation Project of Central South University, China
Received date: 2008−11−07; Accepted date: 2009−02−24
Corresponding author: HU Yue-hua, Professor; Tel: +86−731−88879815; E-mail: HYH@mail.csu.edu.cn
754 J. Cent. South Univ. Technol. (2009) 16: 0753−0757
mine of Anhui Province and Chenzhou of Hunan shown in Fig.1. In the flotation test, the concentration of
Province. The mineral samples were crushed, LSC is 100 mg/L, butyl xanthate concentration is
handpicked and dry-ground with a porcelain ball mill 0.1 mmol/L, and 2# oil concentration is 10 mg/L.
and dry-sieved to obtain different size fractions. The Fig.1 shows that both chalcopyrite and pyrite have
fraction less than 106 µm was used for flotation studies. good floatability in wide pH region with butyl xanthate
The fraction less than 37 µm was used for FTIR studies. as a collector and the recovery is more than 70%. At
The minerals were stored in a desiccator under nitrogen pH>10, pyrite recovery drops because pyrite surface
atmosphere. The purity of the mineral samples was oxidation form hydroxyl compound, resulting in
ascertained by mineralogical studies. Chemical analysis hydrophilic surface in high pH. It can be seen that it may
of two mineral samples indicated that pyrite purity was be difficult to separate chalcopyrite from pyrite in
87.56% and chalcopyrite purity was 72.65%. absence of depressant. Fig.1 also shows that depressant
The collector was butyl xanthate, which was LSC has good depression action on pyrite flotation in
industrial grade product from Chemical Factory of whole pH range with butyl xanthate as a collector, while
Zhuzhou, China. 2# oil was employed as a frother, which LSC has no or little effect on chalcopyrite flotation.
was also industrial grade product. HCl and NaOH were According to the above results it can be inferred that the
adopted to adjust the pulp pH value, and organic flotation separation of pyrite from chalcopyrite may be
depressant LSC is a kind of chemical product. possible in wide pH range by using LSC as a depressant.
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