THE INFLUENCES OF COLLECTOR CHEMISTRY ON KINETICS AND SELECTIVITY IN BASE-METAL SULFIDE FLOTATION

The paper describes how sulphydryl collector chemistry affects the performance of base-metal sulphide flotation, particularly in terms of kinetics and selectivity. The influences of chemical manipulation on the major types of sulphydryl collectors are illustrated. Examples used include plant and laboratory data from flotation systems involving the following ore types:- porphyry copper - molybdenum sedimentary copper copper - zinc massive sulphide copper-lead-zinc complex sulphide Some new developments in base-metal sulphide collectors are described. The responses of different collector types to variation in pulp Eh and pH are illustrated.