Investigation of sulfide flotation with two types of sulfhydryl collectors in the case of a copper porphyry ore from Nevada

Copper is a crucial metal in today's world and for the transition to green energy, thanks to its excellent electrical and thermal conductivity and resistance to corrosion. It is extracted from the earth, mainly from a mineral called chalcopyrite, which is part of the sulfide family. After extraction, chalcopyrite is processed to increase its concentration, with froth flotation being a key method. This process separates valuable minerals from waste based on their physical and chemical properties. Since most minerals are hydrophilic, chemical agents called collectors are used to make chalcopyrite hydrophobic or floatable. Common collectors for sulfide minerals include xanthate and thiocarbamate from the sulfhydryl family.

In this study, the effects of Potassium Amyl Xanthate (PAX) and O-isopropyl N-ethyl thiocarbamate (IPETC) on chalcopyrite flotation were compared in terms of recovery, grade, selectivity, and kinetics using two analytical methods: pXRF (elemental composition) and MLA (particle-based data).

The study found that IPETC is more effective than PAX in enhancing the grade of chalcopyrite. However, there were no significant differences in recovery rates. The selectivity between quartz and chalcopyrite was nearly identical for both PAX and IPETC. Nevertheless, IPETC outperformed PAX in many tests when comparing chalcopyrite with pyrite. It's crucial to account for the frothing effect and overflow when evaluating selectivity.

Regarding flotation kinetics, IPETC achieved a higher flotation rate at a maximum dosage of 5 g/t with a pH of 11.5, whereas PAX reached its highest flotation rate at 75 g/t with a pH of 6. These results should be considered alongside the overflow and frothing effects of IPETC at higher pH levels.