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Effect of dissolved components of malachite and calcite on surface properties and flotation behavior

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Abstract

In general, malachite is recovered via sulfidization–xanthate flotation, although many unsatisfactory flotation indexes are frequently obtained as a result of the presence of associated calcite. This phenomenon occurs because the dissolved components of malachite and calcite affect the flotation behavior of both minerals. In this study, the effect of the dissolved components derived from malachite and calcite on the flotation behavior and surface characteristics of both minerals was investigated. Flotation tests indicated that malachite recovery decreased when the calcite supernatant was introduced, while the presence of the malachite supernatant increased the recovery of calcite. Dissolution and adsorption tests, along with zeta potential measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry demonstrated that the Ca species in the calcite supernatant were adsorbed on the malachite surface, which hindered the interaction of Na2S with malachite, thereby resulting in the insufficient adsorption of sodium isoamyl xanthate (NaIX) on the surface of malachite. By contrast, the Cu species in the malachite supernatant were adsorbed on the calcite surface, and they provided active sites for the subsequent adsorption of Na2S and NaIX.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by Yunnan Fundamental Research Projects (No. 202101BE070001-009) and National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51464029).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Complex Nonferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Faculty of Land Resource Engineering, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China

    Zhihao Shen, Shuming Wen, Han Wang, Yongchao Miao, Xiao Wang, Shengbing Meng & Qicheng Feng

  2. Yunnan Key Laboratory of Green Separation and Enrichment of Strategic Mineral Resources, Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, 650093, China

    Zhihao Shen, Shuming Wen, Han Wang, Yongchao Miao, Xiao Wang, Shengbing Meng & Qicheng Feng

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  1. Zhihao Shen
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  2. Shuming Wen
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Correspondence to Qicheng Feng.

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Shen, Z., Wen, S., Wang, H. et al. Effect of dissolved components of malachite and calcite on surface properties and flotation behavior. Int J Miner Metall Mater 30, 1297–1309 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-023-2606-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12613-023-2606-9

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