Depression of Pyrite in Polymetallic Sulfide Flotation using Chitosan-Grafted-Polyacrylamide
Abstract
Chitosan-grafted-polyacrylamide (Chi-g-PAM) was tested as a potential depressant of pyrite in the bulk flotation of galena from a complex sulfide ore containing galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite, and pyrite. Laboratory scale froth flotation tests were carried out in the presence/absence of Chi-g-PAM, sodium cyanide (industrially used pyrite depressant), chitosan, and polyacrylamide (PAM) at 50 g/t where sodium isopropyl xanthate was used as a collector. The following order of galena flotability (Gf) was observed: Gf /Chi-g-PAM > Gf /Chitosan > Gf /PAM > Gf /NaCN. Zeta potential measurements and adsorption density studies of polymer at mineral/liquid interface verified that Chi-g-PAM had a preferential adsorption onto pyrite as compared to galena. Results obtained from this work suggested that Chi-g-PAM could potentially be used to replace toxic inorganic depressants at the same time improving recovery and grade of galena (PbS) in the flotation concentrates.
Recommended Citation
K. C. Monyake and L. Z. Alagha, "Depression of Pyrite in Polymetallic Sulfide Flotation using Chitosan-Grafted-Polyacrylamide," Proceeding of MineXchange 2020 SME Annual Conference and Expo (2020, Phoenix, AZ), Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), Jan 2020.
Meeting Name
MineXchange 2020 SME Annual Conference and Expo (2020: Feb 23-26, Phoenix, AZ)
Department(s)
Mining Engineering
Document Type
Article - Conference proceedings
Document Version
Citation
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2020 Society for Mining, Metallurgy and Exploration (SME), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Jan 2020
