中国有色金属学报(英文版)
Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China
| Vol. 34 No. 9 September 2024 |
（1. Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China;
2. State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China;
3. Yunnan Key Laboratory of Green Separation and Enrichment of Strategic Mineral Resources, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming 650093, China）
Abstract:The lime-depressed pyrite from Cu differential flotation tailings with acid mine drainage (AMD) as a natural activator was recovered. The effect of AMD on lime-depressed pyrite flotation was investigated by a series of laboratory flotation tests and surface analytical techniques. Flotation test results indicated that AMD could effectively activate the pyrite flotation with a sodium butyl xanthate (SBX) collector, and a high-quality sulfur concentrate was obtained. Pulp ion concentration analysis results indicated that AMD facilitated desorption of Ca2+ and adsorption of Cu2+ on the depressed-pyrite surface. Adsorption measurements and contact angle analysis results confirmed that adding AMD improved the adsorption amount of SBX collector on the pyrite surface and increased the contact angle by 31°. Results of Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis indicated that AMD treatment promoted the formation of hydrophobic species (S0 hydrophobic entity and copper sulfides) and the removal of hydrophilic calcium and iron species on the pyrite surface, which reinforced the adsorption of collector. The findings of the present research provide important theoretical basis and technical support for a cleaner production of copper sulfide ores.
Key words: copper sulfur ore; acid mine drainage; lime-depressed pyrite; flotation; natural activator; activation mechanism
