Study On Electrochemistry Of Flotation Of Lead-antimony-zinc Sulfide Ore In Dithiophosphate Systerm

Multi-metals sulphide minerals, such as jamesonite, marmatite, pyrrhotite and pyrite, are representatively difficult to separate and handle in Dachang, Guangxi province. Flotation electrochemistry is a selective process and can be used to achieve specific separations from complex ores by controlling the pulp potential. In this study, the basic theory of flotation electrochemistry was used to multi-metals sulphide minerals and was not completely understood. Therefore, it is significative to study the flotation electrochemistry technique. Following low cost and good economic benefit, it will be widely applied in the future.Dithiophosphate collectors have found very wide application in flotation due to the characteristics of collectors and frothers. However, the investigation is few throughout the world. So, it is important to study the flotation of sulphide minerals in dithiophosphate systems.The flotation electrochemistry of jamesonite, marmatite, pyrrhotite and pyrite are investigated. The results showed that it is better using dithiophosphate as collector in acid and neutral condition. In certain pH and Eh condition, the separation can be obtained for four sulphide minerals.Meanwhile, the mechanism of oxidation for the sulphide mineral surface was studied. In the different systems, the reaction course and oxidized productions were speculated in the electrode surface of mineral through the electrochemistry detection. As a result, the reaction course is coincident with the prediction of Eh-pH figure. In the ammonium dibutyl dithiophosphate system, the surface hydrophobic substance of jamesonite is PbDTP₂ and the one of marmatite is ZnDTP₂, while those of the pyrrhotite and pyrite may be bi-dithiophosphate.In term of sulphide mineral including lead- antimony-zinc in Dachang, guangxi province, the flotation experiments were carried out using dithiophosphate as collectors and we obtained a better result.