The Influence of Common Chlorides on the Adsorption of SBX on Chalcopyrite Surface during Flotation Process

Abstract

ABSTRACT Chalcopyrite flotability were investigated in four common chloride salts. The results indicated that NaCl, KCl, CaCl2 increased chalcopyrite recovery while MgCl2 decreased its recovery. The monovalent salts played an insignificant role while divalent salts apparently decreased the contact angle of chalcopyrite, regardless of the presence of collectors. Furthermore, the zeta potential was increased in divalent salts and even changed from negative to positive values in MgCl2, highly due to Mg(OH)2 precipitation on chalcopyrite surface. In addition, molecular dynamics simulation indicated that Mg(OH)2 precipitates on chalcopyrite (112) surface stabilized the liquid layer and formed a hydrophilic barrier to inhibit SBX adsorption.