Copper Silicate Mineral Flotation by Activation with Organic Copper-Avid Reagents

Abstract

In order to collect the copper silicate, chrysocolla, a method in which the mineral is activated by a copper-avid organic reagent and then floated by using amyl xanthate was investigated. The copper-avid reagents used were salicylaldoxime. 8-hydroxyquinoline and α-benzoin oxime. The adsorption amounts of amyl xanthate on chrysocolla by the addition of each organic reagent in xanthate solutions were measured. The organic copperavid reagent coadsorbed with amyl xanthate onto the chrysocolla surface. Fundamental tests for the attachment of chrysocolla particles to the air bubble were carried out to clarify the effect of such factors as the pH of the solution, conditioning time, the addition of a copper-avid reagent and the xanthate addition on the floatability of chrysocolla particles. The pH region for the chrysocolla collection by activation with a copper-avid reagent and subsequent flotation using amyl xanthate is closely related to that for the formation of a copper-organic reagent complex, which can be obtained from thermodynamic data for the related stability constants. Flotation tests on the synthetic and natural ores were performed. As a result, it was confirmed that chrysocolla could be floated sufficiently and selectively by its activation with copperavid reagent like 8-hydroxyquinoline or salicylaldoxime, and also by its subsequent collection with amyl xanthate.