Toward green flotation: Interaction of a sophorolipid biosurfactant with a copper sulfide

The United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals have sparked growing interest in biosurfactants from many surfactant-loaded industries including those utilizing froth flotation for mineral separation. However, the interaction of with surfaces is currently poorly understood. We bridge this gap by studying adsorption a yeast-derived bola acidic sophorolipid (ASL) biosurfactant on djurleite (Cu1.94S). methods used include Hallimond flotation, contact angle, isotherm, zeta potential, leaching measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). To facilitate interpretation results, we characterize activity ASL at air-water interface measure its critical micelle concentration (CMC) different pH using static surface tension. find to be multifunctional surfactant an unusual, pH-sensitive interfacial behavior. At interface, most active 8, while CMC goes through minimum as low 40 ?M 7. djurleite-water makes sulfide hydrophilic hydrophobic neutral basic pH. In addition, has strong affinity copper demonstrates metal properties. Finally, detergency offer mechanistic these findings. Our results provide basis application glycolipids implications their ion separation hydrometallurgical routes, well chemical stability sulfides environmental systems.