Selective Flotation of Pyrite from Galena Using Chitosan with Different Molecular Weights

Abstract

Pyrite is a major gangue mineral associated with galena and other valuable minerals, and it is necessary to selectively remove pyrite to upgrade the lead concentrate by froth flotation. In this study, the flotation experiments of a single mineral and mixed minerals were performed using chitosan with different molecular weights (MW = 2−3, 3−6, 10 and 100 kDa) as a depressant, ethyl xanthate as a collector, and terpineol as a frother, in a bid to testify the separation of pyrite from galena. Flotation results showed that the selective flotation of pyrite from galena can be achieved under the preferred reagent scheme, i.e., 400 g/t chitosan (10 kDa), 1600 g/t ethyl xanthate, and 100 g/t terpineol, while chitosan with other molecular weights cannot. Furthermore, the results of the zeta potential and contact angle measurements revealed that chitosan (10 kDa) has a strong adsorption on galena yet a very weak adsorption on pyrite at the dosage of 400 g/t. This study showed that chitosan (10 kDa) has great potential in the industrial flotation separation of pyrite from lead concentrates.

An amperometric glucose biosensor based on electrostatic force induced layer-by-layer GOD/chitosan/pyrite on a glassy carbon electrode

“…A possible explanation for this result could be assessed with the role of isoelectric point. The isoelectric point of bare PR is about pH 3 [57]. When the pH value is greater than 3，the surface of PR is negatively charged.…”

Application of EIS technique to investigate the adsorption of different types of depressants on pyrite

“…Separation performance of flotation reagents and mechanism of selective separation were investigated through various laboratory scale flotation methods, contact angle measurements, surface analytical techniques such as X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), Tof-SIMS, Raman Spectroscopy, etc. and electrochemical techniques (Zhang et al, 2019;Velasquez et al 2005;Valdivieso et al 2004;Zheng et al, 2019). The XPS technique is costly and involves complex data processing for analyzing the changes in oxidation state of diverse chemical elements on the surface of minerals.…”

Automated Identification of Mineral Types and Grain Size Using Hyperspectral Imaging and Deep Learning for Mineral Processing

“…For identification of minerals, the industry standard utilizes analysis equipment, such as X-ray diffraction (XRD) and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES); however, these are laboratory processes, and the amount of analyzed samples is relatively small compared to the run-of-mine as the process requires significant time and resources to perform [6]. With regard to the identification of mineral species in beneficiation, techniques and approaches have been developed and established, particularly in the fields of geometallurgy and process mineralogy [7][8][9][10][11][12].…”