Adsorption Characteristics of Combined Sulfhydryl Collector on Chalcopyrite and Arsenopyrite in Flotation of Complex Gold Ores

Abstract

The paper presents the results of experimental study of the adsorption properties of the combined sulfhydril collecting reagent –
a mixed solution of sodium diethyl-dithiocarbamate (DEDTC) and oxypropyl diethyl-dithiocarbamate ester (OPDTC) towards
chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite with a view to its application as a selective collector of Au-containing sulfide minerals in flotation
of complex refractory ores. Combined diethyl-dithiocarbamate solution (DEDTCc) incorporated a fixed content of anionic and
non-ionic components (DEDTC:OPDTC = 1:1) and occurred variable hydrophobic effect on the surface of the basic gold-bearing
sulfide minerals – chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite.
The mechanism of adsorption of the components of combined collector on the surface of chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite was identified
to form characteristic molecular shape of adsorbed collector convex neoplasms and sinter chemically adsorbed film of the
reactant, which is firmly anchored on the surface. The newly formed phase of the adsorbed reagent did not dissolve in water at a
subsequent washing. In this case, the phase of nonionic ester OPDTC was partially removed by water and the residual adsorbed
droplets changed their shape and became flatter. By X-ray microanalysis C and O bands relating to the structure of the combined
DEDTCc were identified on the surface of arsenopyrite and chalcopyrite. The original technic for analyzing the liner dimension of
surface images with an application of scanning laser microscopy and the software of the Analyzer was developed and the authors
succeeded to provide a quantitative evaluation of the adsorption of DEDTCc on the surface of chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite.