FLOTOMETRIC INVESTIGATION OF HYDROPHOBIC SULFIDE DIETHYL DIXANTHOGEN SYSTEMS

Different size fractions of hydrophobic galena, pyrite, chalcopyrite, and copper (I) sulphide were floated in a monobubble Hallimond tube at varying diethyl dixanthogen, (EtX)2, concentrations. The floatability of the solids was characterized by maximum recovery (recovery after a prolonged, 30 min of flotation) versus particle size curves at a constant (EtX)2 concentration, and subsequently, by curves relating the mean particle size for which maximum recovery is 50% (a50) to (EtX)2 concentration. To compare the floatability of sulphides, the so-called flotometric equation in the form a50 (rho-p - rho-w) = L was utilized, where rho-p, rho-w, and L stand for particle density, density of water and flotometric activity, respectively. This equation accounts for the influence of particle density on flotation. Dixanthogen flotation of several hydrophobic sulphides was evaluated in terms of flotometric activity L versus relative (EtX)2 concentration expressed as log C/C(m), where C(m) denotes the (EtX)2 concentration which maximizes the size of particles (a(max)) that can be floated. It was determined that the flotometric activity was identical for all the sulphides investigated, though different (EtX)2 concentrations were required for comparable flotation results. It wa also established that maximum flotometric activity was similar to that of collectorless flotation of Teflon and oleate flotation of magnetite.