The flotation separation of pyrite from arsenopyrite using hexyl thioethylamine as collector

Abstract

The floatability of pyrite and arsenopyrite was studied using sodium ethyl xanthate (NaEX), potassium amyl xanthate (KAX) and hexyl thioethylamine hydrochloride (HTA). The experiments were conducted on individual minerals and on the mixtures as a function of pH and collector concentration employing Hallimond tube and bench flotation equipment. The performance of HTA, which is an amine type cationic collector, was found to be distinctively good at alkaline pH values unlike xanthates that give good recoveries at acidic pH region. The preliminary work showed that the best separation could be achieved with HTA by the selective flotation of pyrite. Separation tests using HTA were carried out with a Hallimond tube and Denver flotation cell. The selective flotation of pyrite from arsenopyrite was achieved at around pH 11, employing HTA without using any regulators to depress arsenopyrite.