ABSTRACT

This study investigated the impact of tetrathionate ions on selected sulfide mineral surfaces and their flotation response to tetrathionates using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), zeta potential and batch flotation studies and linking the results to previously reported electrochemistry, FTIR and microflotation studies. XPS revealed that tetrathionates have the propensity to oxidize minerals, changing the chemical composition of the mineral surface. This surface alteration renders the sulfide minerals hydrophilic through sulphoxy and hydroxy entities reducing collector adsorption as noted in FTIR and mixed potential studies. Zeta potentials showed little specific adsorption of tetrathionates on the sulfides except at moderately high concentrations, i.e., 1000 mg/L. Batch flotation showed that tetrathionates in solution depressed sulfide minerals, particularly galena, reducing its recovery to the concentrates in support of earlier microflotation results.

摘要

本研究使用 X 射线光电子能谱 (XPS)、zeta 电位和批量浮选研究，并将结果与​​先前报道的电化学、FTIR 和微浮选研究联系起来，研究了连四硫酸根离子对选定硫化物矿物表面的影响及其对连四硫酸盐的浮选响应。XPS 揭示连四硫酸盐具有氧化矿物的倾向，从而改变矿物表面的化学成分。如 FTIR 和混合电位研究中所指出的，这种表面变化通过亚砜和羟基实体使硫化物矿物具有亲水性，从而减少了捕收剂的吸附。Zeta 电位显示连四硫酸盐对硫化物的特异性吸附很小，除了在中等高浓度（即 1000 mg/L）下。