CHEMISTRY OF

FLOTATION
FUNDAMENTALS
JEAN PADILLA
Topics
The flotation system
3 phase system in flotation
Reagents classification
Adsorption theories
Adsorption in sulfides
How to select a reagent?
 The Flotation System

WHERE WE ARE IN FLOTATION CHEMISTRY AFTER 70 YEARS OF RESEARCH (Fuerstenau, 1995)

 Three phase system in flotation
Water

The phase where everything

happens….
Hydration of ions, Solubility of
minerals, impurities (hardness),
Dissolved gases
Solid Gas

Solubility, ions, chemistry, Pulp aereation, dissolved gases

inclusions, multi-mineral…… (hydrofobization)... Perform
heterogeneity separation
Handbook of Flotation Reagents: Chemistry, Theory and Practice (Bulatovic, 2007)
Factors that Affect Flotation
 Reagents Classification

Flotation of Sulfur/Nitrogen
Sulphides/some based
Carboxylates Flotation of oxides Xanthates
AlkylSulphates Oxides/ Cpy/cc/bn/Cu Xanthogen-
Sulphonates sulphates Au-py formates
Hydroxamates Rare Earths Ag sulphides Thiocarbamates
Sulfosuccinates/ Titanium ores Sphalerite MBT
succinamates Cassiterite Galena P based
Phoshonic acids Barite Pendlandite Dithiophosphates
Phosphoric acids Celestite (Nickel ores) Dithiophosphinat
ester Gypsum, etc PGM ores, etc es
 Adsorption Theories
Physisorption

Describes better the

Chemisorption sulphides flotation

Electrochemical model

Describes better the

Electrostatic Model oxides/salts flotation

The proposed mechanism can serve as a starting point for the selection of reagents and might
lead to a better utilization of various reagents in mineral processing. (Bulatovic, 2007)
Electrostatic Model
 Galena
Physi-Chemisorption explains xanthate adsorption
(a) xanthate chemisorbed at the monolayer coverage
(b) PbX2 is adsorbed at multi-layer coverage (physisorbed by Van Der Waals bonds)

Electrochemical approach also explains xanthate adsorption

 Galena
Potential effect on flotation depends on mineral
pretreatment (Figure 9).
Pyrite
Dixanthogen is responsible for pyrite flotation at pH<11 with short-chain Xanthates.

Chemisorption also explain the pyrite flotation

 Pyrite High
KEX (2 C)
High
PAX (5 C)

^( - 5)M
1x 10
Medium
Low

Low

The role of dixanthogen in xanthate flotation of pyrite (Fuerstenau et al, 1968)

Chalcosite
Adsorption is a Two stage process
1st. Presence of INSOLUBLE Xanthate species (Chemisorbed layer)
2nd. Then, multiple layes of Cuprous Xanthate are adsorbed

In DTP-Cu2S system … CuDTP is formed on the Surface (QUEMISORPTION)

Chalcopyrite
Floats well with XANTHATE in the pH range 2 – 12

pH<11 …. Electrochemical approach (Dixanthogen X2 formation)

pH>11…. Chemisorption happens (Dixanthogen X2 is not stable at this pH range)

 Sphalerite
• Similar to the chalcosite
Pb- PbS mechanism….
Activated
ZnS

ZnS

Fundamentals of Interaction between ZnSO4 and sphalerite during flotation of complex sulfide
minerals Shall, 1999
Reagents and its applications

Table. Most Frequently Employed Flotation Reagents and their Typical Applications (Leja,1981)
Reagents and its applications

Table. Most Frequently Employed Flotation Reagents and their Typical Applications (Leja,1981)
Reagents and its applications

Table. Most Frequently Employed Flotation Reagents and their Typical Applications (Leja,1981)
How to select a reagent
Screening based on experience/DoE
Reagent scheme for rougher

Reagent scheme for cleaner … advisable Locked Cycle tests

Thank you!!!

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