Flotation separation of chalcopyrite from galena by sodium humate and ammonium persulfate

The flotabilities of chalcopyrite and galena with sodium humate（HA） and ammonium persulfate（APS） as the depressant were studied by flotation test, adsorption measurement and infrared spectroscopic analysis. Single mineral flotation test shows that the slurry oxidation environment and the proper oxidation of galena surface are prerequisites for the depression of galena by sodium humate. The closed-circuit flotation test of copper/lead bulk concentrate shows that the grade and recovery of Cu reach 30.47% and 89.16% respectively and those of Pb reach 2.06% and1.58% respectively in copper concentrate, and the grade and recovery of Pb reach 50.34% and 98.42% and those of Cu reach 1.45% and 10.84% respectively in lead concentrate with HA and APS. The selective depression effect of HA and APS is more obvious than that of potassium dichromate. The results of FTIR analysis and adsorption measurements indicate that the adsorption of sodium humate on the fresh surface of galena is negligible, while after oxidation, sodium humate can be chemically adsorbed on the surface of galena. According to the theory of solubility product, the sodium humate can display the oxidation product PbSO_4, after then, adsorb on the surface of lead chemically to produce inhibitory effect. Thus, it can be seen that the combination of HA and APS is an efficient non-toxic reagent to achieve cleaning separation copper/lead bulk concentrate by flotation. The combination of HA and APS is an efficient non-toxic reagent to achieve cleaning for copper/lead bulk concentrate by flotation.

Selective depression mechanism of combination of lime and sodium humate on arsenopyrite in flotation separation of Zn-As bulk concentrate

Lime(CaO)and sodium humate(NaHA)were used as the combined depressant for arsenopyrite pre-treated by CuSO_(4) and butyl xanthate.Micro-flotation tests show that the combined depressant CaO and NaHA achieved the selective depression of arsenopyrite.Closed-circuit lab-scale test results indicate that the synergistic effect of CaO+NaHA achieved a satisfactory flotation separation of sphalerite and arsenopyrite,for which the Zn grade and recovery of Zn concentrate were 51.21%and 92.21%,respectively.Contact angle measurements,adsorption amount measurements and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicate that the dissolved calcium species(mainly as Ca(2+))were adsorbed on the mineral surfaces,thereby promoting NaHA adsorption.Moreover,the surface of the arsenopyrite absorbed more amount of calcium species and NaHA than that of the sphalerite,thereby accounting for the strong hydrophilic surface of arsenopyrite.The adsorption of NaHA on arsenopyrite was mainly chemical adsorption through its carboxyl groups and Ca atoms,whereas that on sphalerite surface was relatively weak.