Effect of Power Ultrasound on Wettability and Collector-Less Floatability of Chalcopyrite, Pyrite and Quartz

Numerous studies have addressed the role of ultrasonication on floatability minerals macroscopically. However, impact acoustic waves mineral hydrophobicity and its physicochemical aspects were entirely overlooked in literature. This paper mainly investigates ultrasonic power time wettability chalcopyrite, pyrite quartz. For this purpose, contact angle collectorless microflotation tests implemented ultrasonic-pretreated non-treated quartz minerals. The process was carried out by a probe-type ultrasound (Sonopuls, 20 kHz 60 W) at various (0.5–30 min) (0–180 while dissolved oxygen (DO), liquid temperature, conductivity (CD) pH continuously monitored. Comparative assessment wettabilities presence constant low-powered (60 pre-treatment uncovered that surface all three became relatively hydrophilic. Meanwhile, increasing sonication intensity enhanced their hydrophilicities to some extent except for highest power-level. related generation hydroxyl radicals, iron-deficient chalcopyrite elemental sulfur (for chalcopyrite), formation OH H radicals together with H2O2 pyrite) creation SiOH (silanol) groups hydrogen bond water dipoles quartz). Finally, it also found led enhancement temperature but diminished degree oxygen, which indirectly influenced floatabilities. Although ultrasound-treated micro-flotation recoveries lower than conventional ones, an optimum power-level 60–90 W identified maximizing recovery.