Adsorption and desorption of butyl xanthate on chalcopyrite

Abstract

Reagent removal is an indispensable step to further separation of the copper sulfide ore flotation mixed concentrate, and xanthate is one of the most commercially used collectors for chalcopyrite flotation. In this work, the adsorption/desorption quantity of butyl xanthate was measured by the spectrophotometric method. Three adsorption models of Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin were used to fit the xanthate adsorption quantity dates. The results show that the adsorptions of sodium butyl xanthate on chalcopyrite match the Langmuir model best in the experimental conditions. Sodium sulfide dosage, pH value, ultrasonic wave, and temperature all show effects on butyl xanthate desorption. Butyl xanthate desorption can promote by increasing the dosage of sodium sulfide, ultrasonic wave intensity, temperature, and acidity or alkalinity of pulp. The order of the effectiveness of four conditions is sodium sulfide dosage, temperature, pH, and ultrasonic.