The National University of Science and Technology “MISiS”, Moscow, Russia:

B. E. Goryachev, Professor, Department of Mineral Processing and Technogenic Raw Materials
Kyaw Zay Ya, Postgraduate student, Department of Mineral Processing and Technogenic Raw Materials
A. A. Nikolaev, Associate Professor, Department of Mineral Processing and Technogenic Raw Materials, e-mail: nikolaevopr@mail.ru

The results of sphalerite froth flotation research using copper, zinc and iron sulphates are presented. Potassium butyl xanthate and sodium butyl dithiophosphate were used as collectors. Flotation experiments were carried out in lime medium. The activation and depression effects of copper, zinc and iron sulphates on the flotation of sphalerite were studied. The investigations revealed the modifying effect of copper, zinc and iron sulphates in the flotation of sphalerite. It had a relation to reagent dosage, pH of a liquid phase and type of the collector. The lowest effect of copper, zinc and iron sulphates on sphalerite flotation was at pH = 8. In more alkaline conditions (pH = 10) dosing copper sulphate and iron sulphate led to sphalerite activation and in the case of zinc sulphate – depression of the sphalerite flotation. The activation effect of iron sulphate on sphalerite flotation became apparent in strong alkaline conditions at low dosages of iron sulphate (20 g/t). The most contrasting effect of copper, zinc and iron sulphates was in the case of using the butyl dithiophosphate as a collector for sphalerite flotation at pH = 10: under these conditions the dosage of copper sulphate brought to activating effect on sphalerite flotation. Zinc and iron sulphates had a depression effect on sphalerite flotation at pH = 10. The effect of copper, zinc and iron sulphates on sphalerite flotation kinetics in alkaline conditions was studied. It was found that mineral flotation depends on chemical composition of sulphates and collectors used. The sphalerite samples had slow, medium and fast floatable fractions. The distribution of sphalerite by fractions of floatability depended on the chemical composition and dosage of sulphate used, the type of sulphydryl collector and pH of the liquid phase.
This work was carried out with the financial support of the Ministry of Education and Science of Russian Federation according to the Federal Target Program “Investigations and developments by the priority ways of development of scientific-technological complex of Russia for 2014–2020”, project RFMEFI57514X0085.

1. Abramov A. A. Technology of dressing of non-ferrous metal ores. Moscow : Nedra, 1983. 359 p.
2. Yalcin E., Kelebek S. Flotation kinetics of a pyritic gold ore. International Journal of Mineral Processing. 2011. Vol. 98, No. 1/2. pp. 48–54.
3. Bogdanov O. S., Maksimov I. I., Podnek A. K., Yanis N. A. Theory and technology of ore flotation. Moscow : Nedra, 1990. 363 p.
4. Bocharov V. A., Ryskin M. Ya. Technology of conditioning and selective flotation of non-ferrous metal ores. Moscow : Nedra, 1993. 287 p.
5. Bocharov V. A., Ignatkina V. A. Mineral dressing technology. In two volumes. Volume 1 : Mineral raw material base of mineral resources. Dressing of non-ferrous metal ores, ores and placers of rare metals. Moscow : “Ore and Metals” Publishing House, 2007. 472 p.
6. Ignatkina V. A., Bocharov V. A. Features of flotation of various copper sulfides and sphalerite contained in sulfide ore. Gornyi Zhurnal. 2014. No. 12. pp. 75–79.
7. Kislyakov L. D., Kozlov G. V., Nagirnyak F. I. Flotation of copper-zinc and copper ores of the Urals. Moscow : Nedra, 1966. 336 p.
8. Ryaboy V. I., Shenderovich V. A., Kretov V. P. Aerofloat usage during ore flotation. Obogashchenie Rud. 2005. No. 6. pp. 43, 44.
9. Chandra A. P., Gerson A. R. A review of the fundamental studies of the copper activation mechanisms for selective flotation of the sulfide minerals, sphalerite and pyrite. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science. 2009. Vol. 145. pp. 97–110.
10. Finkelstein N. P. The activation of sulphide minerals for flotation: a review. International Journal of Mineral Processing. 1997. Vol. 52. pp. 81–120.
11. Dichmann T. K., Finch J. A. The role of copper ions in sphalerite-pyrite flotation selectivity. Minerals Engineering. 2001. Vol. 14, No. 2. pp. 217–225.
12. Chandra A. P., Puskar L., Simpson D. J., Gerson A. R. Copper and xanthate adsorption onto pyrite surfaces: Implications for mineral separation through flotation. International Journal of Mineral Processing. 2012. Vol. 114/117. pp. 16–26.
13. Rao S. R., Nesset J. E., Finch J. A. Activation of sphalerite by Cu ions produced by cyanide action on chalcopyrite. Minerals Engineering. 2011. Vol. 24, No. 9. pp. 1025–1027.
14. He Shuhua, Skinner William, Fornasiero Daniel. Effect of oxidation potential and zinc sulphate on the separation of chalcopyrite from pyrite. International Journal of Mineral Processing. 2006. Vol. 80. pp. 169– 176.
15. Khmeleva T. N., Chapelet J. K., Skinner W. M., Beattie D. A. Depression mechanisms of sodium bisulphite in the xanthate-induced flotation of copper activated sphalerite. International Journal of Mineral Processing. 2006. Vol. 79. pp. 61–75.
16. Shubov L. Ya., Ivankov S. I. Patented flotation agents : tutorial. Moscow : Nedra, 1992. 362 p.
17. Abramov A. A. Theoretical basis of optimization of selective flotation of sulfide ores. Moscow : Nedra, 1978. 280 p.
18. Tikhonov O. N. Regularities of efficient mineral separation during mineral processing. Moscow : Nedra, 1984. 208 p.
19. Samygin V. D., Filippov L. O., Shekhirev D. V. Basis of ore dressing : tutorial for universities. Moscow : Alteks, 2003. 304 p.
20. Goryachev B. E., Naing Linoo, Nikolaev A. A. Peculiarities of flotation of pyrite of one of copper-zinc deposits of Ural region by potassium butyl xanthate and sodium dithiophosphate. Tsvetnye Metally. 2014. No. 6. pp. 16–22.
21. Goryachev B. E., Naing Linoo, Nikolaev A. A., Polyakova Yu. N. Peculiarities of influence of copper, zinc and iron cations on flotability of pyrite of one of copper-zinc Ural deposits. Tsvetnye Metally. 2015. No. 1. pp. 12–17.
22. Nikolaev A. A., So Tu, Goryachev B. E. Investigation of fraction selectivity of pyrite and sphalerite taking into account the kinetics of their flotation by compositions of sulfhydryl collectors. Gornyy informatsionno-analiticheskiy byulleten. 2015. No. 9. pp. 95–105.