Effect of sulfidization on the surface property and flotation behavior of heterogenite

Abstract

Heterogenite is an important cobalt oxide mineral, however, few investigations on the surface properties and flotation recovery of heterogenite were conducted. In this study, the effect of sulfidization on the surface property and flotation behavior of heterogenite was studied for the first time, using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis, zeta potential measurements, adsorption amount tests, and micro-flotation experiments. Micro-flotation experiments proved that the flotation recovery of heterogenite is quite difficult. Zeta potential and sulfur ions adsorption tests proved that sulfur could be adsorbed on the surface of heterogenite, but the adsorption amount was very limited, and FT-IR indicates that the adsorption of PAX was also enhanced after sulfidization. XPS and SEM-EDS analysis further showed that the high O/Co ratio, special micromorphology, and Co3+ sites with strongly oxidizing properties on the surface heterogenite hinder the adsorption of sulfur ions being unfavorable sulfidization, which might be the reason why it is difficult to benefit heterogenite. The results are of far-reaching significance for deepening the understanding of the flotation behavior of heterogenite and taking corrective measures to recover this type of cobalt oxide ore.