Electrochemical flotation separation of chalcopyrite from molybdenite by CM Eh control
(Department of Mineral Engineering , Central South University of Technology , Changsha 410083 , P .R. China)
Abstract: A new effective depressant of chalcopyrite CM was introduced. It is of strong reductibility and was used to control the pulp potential for depressing chalcopyrite in Cu Mo separation. Cyclic voltammetry measurements were made to study the redox reactions on the surface of chalcopyrite electrodes in different solution systems. Microflotation tests were performed to investigate its effect on the floatability of chalcopyrite. Results of cyclic voltammetry showed that CM- could be adsorbed on the surface of chalcopyrite prior to EX-, and was not easily oxidized in oxygen free solution. Microflotation tests indicated that the depressing effect of CM is better than that of Na 2S and TGA (HSCH2CCOOH) under the same condition.
Key words: electrochemical flotation； chalcopyrite； molybdenite