Adsorption and activation of copper ions on chalcopyrite surfaces: A new viewpoint of self-activation
(State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization,
Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China)
Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China)
Abstract: The adsorption behaviors of copper ions on chalcopyrite surfaces were investigated based on zeta potential measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, copper ion adsorption experiments, first-principles calculations, and Hallimond tube cell flotation experiments. The results show that copper ions activate the chalcopyrite as a result of the interactions between copper ions and sulfur on the chalcopyrite surface. This adsorption increases the flotation rate under certain conditions, and this is beneficial for the flotation of chalcopyrite. The copper ions in the flotation pulp are mainly derived from surface oxidation dissolution and the release of fluid inclusions, and these effects enable chalcopyrite to be activated.
Key words: chalcopyrite; copper ions; adsorption; self-activation