Abstract Certain complex copper sulphide ores contain trace levels of radioactive elements, most of which can be separated from the copper sulphide minerals during flotation. However, the flotation process is less effective at removing some of these radionuclides, namely Pb-210. It is hypothesised that Pb-210 is interacting with copper sulphides and this interaction is contributing to flotation rejection inefficiency. Throughout this study, regular lead is used to simulate Pb-210. Cryogenic X-ray Photoelectron Spectrometry (Cryo-XPS) has been used to confirm an interaction between lead and copper sulphide minerals in which lead forms as a lead sulphide-like compound on the surface of copper sulphide minerals. Lead interacts with copper sulphide mineral surfaces via two mechanisms: chemically adsorbing to sulphur to form lead sulphide and lead sulphite species, and precipitating on the surface as various lead oxides species. The ratio of lead-sulphur species to lead-oxygen species on the copper sulphide surfaces is increased by regrinding due to the lead-sulphur species being more strongly associated with the mineral surfaces. Lead remains on the mineral surfaces during flotation and is carried to copper concentrates during cleaner flotation.

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硫化铜上的铅吸附及其与铜精矿污染的相关性

摘要 某些复杂的硫化铜矿石中含有微量的放射性元素，在浮选过程中可以从硫化铜矿物中分离出大部分放射性元素。然而，浮选过程在去除其中一些放射性核素（即 Pb-210）方面效果较差。假设 Pb-210 与硫化铜相互作用，这种相互作用导致浮选排斥效率低下。在整个研究过程中，使用常规铅来模拟 Pb-210。低温 X 射线光电子能谱 (Cryo-XPS) 已被用于确认铅和硫化铜矿物之间的相互作用，其中铅在硫化铜矿物表面形成类似硫化铅的化合物。铅通过两种机制与硫化铜矿物表面相互作用：化学吸附到硫上形成硫化铅和亚硫酸铅物种，并以各种铅氧化物物种的形式沉淀在表面。由于铅硫物种与矿物表面的关联性更强，硫化铜表面上的铅硫物种与铅氧物种的比率通过再研磨而增加。铅在浮选过程中保留在矿物表面，并在更清洁的浮选过程中被带到铜精矿中。