Thiadiazole-thione surfactants: Preparation, flotation performance and adsorption mechanism to malachite

Abstract

In this paper, novel thiadiazole-thione surfactants including 5-heptyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thione (HpSDT), 5-phenyl-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thione (PSDT) and 5-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thione (HPhSDT) were synthesized and originally introduced as collectors in froth flotation. Micro-flotation tests showed that HpSDT exhibited better flotation response to malachite than PSDT and HPhSDT, as well as excellent flotation selectivity against quartz. The contact angle results inferred that the hydrophobization intensity of these collectors toward malachite was in the order as HpSDT>PSDT>HPhSDT. ζ-potential recommended a chemisorption of HpSDT on malachite surfaces. FTIR deduced that cupric or cuprous atoms might bond with the S and N atoms of HpSDT to form a conjugated ring. XPS further gave an additional evidence that HpSDT-Cu(I) complexes were produced on malachite surfaces via combining surface Cu atoms with HpSDT’s N and S atoms, with reducing surface Cu(II) to Cu(I). The tighter orientation arrangement on malachite and stronger hydrophobicity rendered HpSDT to possess better flotation affinity toward malachite than PSDT and HPhSDT.