Enhanced sulfidization of azurite surfaces by ammonium phosphate and its effect on flotation

Although azurite is one of the most important copper oxide minerals,the recovery of this mineral via sulfidization-xanthate flotation is typically unsatisfactory.The present work demonstrated the enhanced sulfidization of azurite surfaces using ammonia phosphate((NH_(4))_(3)PO_(4)) together with Na_(2)S,based on micro-flotation experiments,time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry(ToF-SIMS),X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS),zeta-potential measurements,contact angle measurements,Fourier-transform infrared(FT-IR)spectroscopy,and ultraviolet-visible(UV-Vis)spectroscopy.Micro-flotation experiments showed that the floatability of azurite was increased following the simultaneous addition of(NH_(4))_(3)PO_(4)and Na_(2)S.ToF-SIMS and XPS analyses demonstrated the formation of a high content of S species on the azurite surface and an increase in the number of Cu(I)species after exposure to(NH_(4))_(3)PO_(4)and Na_(2)S,compared with the azurite-Na_(2)S system.The zeta potential of azurite particles was negatively shifted and the contact angle on the azurite surface was increased with the addition of(NH_(4))_(3)PO_(4)prior to Na_(2)S.These results indicate that treatment with(NH_(4))_(3)PO_(4) enhances the sulfidization of azurite surfaces,which in turn promotes xanthate attachment.FT-IR and UV-Vis analyses confirmed that the addition of(NH_(4))_(3)PO_(4) increased the adsorption of xanthate with reducing the consumption of xanthate during the azurite flotation process.Thus,(NH_(4))_(3)PO_(4) has a beneficial effect on the sulfidization flotation of azurite.