Effect of H2O2 and nash addition to change the electrochemical potential in flotation of chalcopyrite and pyrite minerals

Abstract

The floatability of sulfide minerals can be affected by the redox conditions on particle surface and in the pulp and can be used as one of the parameters for the separation of sulfide minerals. In the present study, the presence of reducing and oxidizing agents in the pulp is investigated for pure samples of chalcopyrite and pyrite. A good correlation between pulp potential and recovery of chalcopyrite and pyrite was found when the potential was varied by addition of H2O2 and NaSH as oxidizing and reducing agents, respectively. In general, flotation is possible in the mildly to moderately oxidizing region and in slight or absent in reducing solutions for sulfide minerals.