Abstract
Although Na2S doesn’t depress the flotation of molybdenite, as the most utilized depressant, its effect on the flotation of molybdenite in the case where Pb2+ is involved has not been investigated yet. In this work, the flotation behavior of molybdenite in Pb2+ solution with or without Na2S was investigated. The mechanism was also studied by Zeta potential measurement, SEM-EDX, AFM and XPS analysis. The results indicated Pb2+ depressed the flotation of molybdenite, and Na2S enhanced the depression effect significantly. The depression effect depended on pH in both Pb2+ and Pb2+-Na2S solutions. In Pb2+ solution, the depression is mainly due to formation of PbS on molybdenite surface. While in Pb2+-Na2S solutions, the deterioration of flotation was majorly attributed to coating of strongly hydrophilic Pb(OH)2 precipitate on molybdenite surface.
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