Raman spectroscopic study of some chalcopyrite-xanthate flotation products

The ability of Raman spectroscopy to investigate chemical substances in water media was applied for studying the surface products of the chalcopyrite-sodium isopropyl xanthate flotation system. Performing the reaction in model conditions, i.e. at high concentration of the collector, led to the formation of copper isopropyl xanthate and diisopropyldixantogen on the chalcopyrite surface. The recorded Raman bands of these compounds were determined on the basis of the vibrational band assignment of normal vibrations of the corresponding individual compounds. The latter facilitated the Raman spectroscopic elucidation of the reaction products formed on the chalcopyrite surface in real industrial flotation conditions with a sodium isopropyl xanthate collector. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.