An electrochemical investigation of sulphide ore flotation in the presence of Fe-2(SO4)(3)

Abstract

Before measuring electrochemical potential of flotation pulp in the presence of Fe-2(SO4)(3), it has been measured in solution with five different electrodes for different concentration of Fe-2(SO4)(3). It show that potential was dependent on the Fe-2(SO4)(3) concentration and electrode material. Then a series of tests were performed where Fe-2(SO4)(3) was added to the microflotation cell at pH 2, 7 and 9.5 for chalcopyrite, pyrite, sphalerite and galena. The results show that presence of Fe+3 increased the pulp potential above a certain concentration but decreased the recovery gradually at any concentration for all minerals studied and as pH of the pulp increased recovery decreased. Investigation was taken further to see and compare the effect of Fe-2(SO4)(3) for flotation of complex sulphide ore. Results showed that both recoveries and grades were varied when concentration was high than 10(-3) M and pyrite recovery increased sharply while potential was within -50 mV to 50 mV for whole the range of Fe-2(SO4)(3) concentration without showing any direct relationship.