AFM Image Analysis of the Adsorption of Xanthate and Dialkyl Dithiophosphate on Chalcocite

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) has been applied to study the adsorption morphology of various collectors, i.e., potassium ethyl xanthate (KEX) and amyl (PAX) Cytec Aerofloat 238 (sodium dibutyl dithiophosphate), on chalcocite in situ aqueous solutions. The AFM images show that all these collectors adsorb strongly chalcocite. Xanthate adsorbs mainly form insoluble cuprous (CuX), which binds with mineral surface without being removed by flushing ethanol alcohol. This xanthate/chalcocite mechanism is very similar one obtained xanthate/bornite system; while it different from xanthate/chalcopyrite systems, for oily dixanthogen main product chalcopyrite surface. On other hand, dithiophosphate hydrophobic patches, can be rinsing increases increasing time collectors’ concentration. In addition, solution pH 10 does not prevent result line fact floats well a wide range up 12 dialkyl used as collectors. blending shows co-adsorb both Cu(DTP)2 (Cu dithiophosphate) present helps clarify flotation industry practice using