Abstract
The results obtained from measurements of potassium ethyl xanthate (EtXK) sorption by synthetic chalcocite (Cu 2S) and the results of chalcocite floatability measurements are presented. Five chalcocite samples, denoted as Cu 2S A, B, C, D and E, were used for the measurements. Chalcocite samples of 60–75 μm were prepared in the same manner but were kept under conditions which differed in their degree to prevent surface oxidation by atmospheric oxygen. Chalcocite surface oxidation has a strong effect both on xanthate sorption and on chalcocite floatability. The maximal amount of xanthate abstracted ( Q max) by chalcocite samples from deoxygenated solutions after a long sorption period increases with increasing oxidation of the samples. The Q max values give information concerning the total amount of surface oxidation products. Chalcocite decreases its floatability with increasing surface oxidation. Most oxidized chalcocite samples required an about 100 times greater collector consumption to obtain the same flotation results than the least-oxidized samples studied.
Published Version
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