The Effect of Seaweed Glue in the Separation of Copper–Molybdenum Sulphide Ore by Flotation

• Published in: Minerals (Basel) Vol. 8; no. 2; p. 41
• Main Authors: Zhixiang Chen, Guohua Gu, Shuangke Li, Chongqing Wang, Renfeng Zhu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 01-02-2018
• Subjects: chalcopyrite; flotation depressant; molybdenite; seaweed glue
• ISSN: 2075-163X
• DOI: 10.3390/min8020041

Flotation separation of chalcopyrite from molybdenite was studied using seaweed glue (SEG) as a depressant. Flotation process and mechanism were examined by response surface methodology, flotation tests, adsorption tests, zeta potential measurements and fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra. Response surface methodology with a Box–Behnken design suggested the optimal reagent schedule: pH 4, depressant seaweed glue 197 mg/L, collector amyl xanthate 16 mg/L and frother (methyl isobutyl carbinol) 20 mg/L, and selective separation of chalcopyrite and molybdenite was achieved by flotation. Comparison of SEG and traditional depressants indicated that the SEG could achieve a similar separation efficiency, and exhibited the advantages of environmental compatibility and economic adaptability. Co-adsorption of seaweed glue and amyl xanthate occurred on the surface of molybdenite, and is explained to happen through distinct mechanisms due to the heterogeneous nature of the surface. It is likely that seaweed glue depresses molybdenite by covering the dixanthogen resulting from adsorption of xanthate ions. It is shown that seaweed glue is as effective a depressant of Cu/Mo separation as cyanide.