Selective separation of chalcopyrite and talc using pullulan as a new depressant

Abstract

As a gangue mineral, talc is usually associated with chalcopyrite. Therefore, the depression of talc is required in the field of sulphide mineral flotation. Herein, the depression mechanism of pullulan in the flotation separation of chalcopyrite from talc was investigated via flotation tests and characterisation techniques, such as Fourier transform infrared analysis (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). The flotation test results showed that chalcopyrite can be selectively separated from talc with 20 mg/L pullulan as a depressant, and that the separation effect remains unaffected when the depressant dosage is increased to 80 mg/L. Additionally, the zeta potential, FTIR and adsorption measurements indicated that pullulan is selectively adsorbed on talc surfaces, and that talc surfaces adsorb more depressants than chalcopyrite. The XPS results indicated that the pullulan adsorption on talc surfaces is physical. The AFM results indicated that pullulan adsorption on talc surfaces forms polymer layers. Therefore, pullulan is considered a potential depressant of talc in the flotation industry.