Efficiently separating malachite from talc using new collector famciclovir via reverse flotation

Abstract

In this study, famciclovir was used as a new collector in the flotation separation of malachite from talc. The results of flotation tests demonstrated that famciclovir had higher selective collection ability to talc than malachite. Famciclovir could remove talc from malachite-talc mixture, including −10 μm talc. The adsorption behaviors of famciclovir onto the surfaces of malachite and talc were researched by contact angle measurement, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis and FTIR spectrum measurements, which indicated that famciclovir can selectively adsorbed onto talc surface. Thus, famciclovir could be used as a high-selectivity collector to efficiently separate malachite from talc and reduce the covering of talc slime on malachite surface. Therefore, famciclovir is expected to have great potential for pre-desliming in the flotation of copper oxide minerals.