Collectorless Flotation of Sulphide Minerals

Abstract

Collectorless flotation is reviewed from the viewpoint of classical oxidation studies through to modern electrochemical, surface chemical and spectroscopic investigations coupled with flotation studies. Sulphide minerals apparently oxidize through a continuum of metal deficient sulphides of decreasing metal content through to elemental sulphur. The exact surface species responsible for surface hydrophobicity is still open to debate. The major challenge for future research will be to separate sulphide minerals from one another by Eh control and, in doing so, to understand the inevitable mineral interactions which should occur.

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R. W. SMITH

Present address: Department of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada Reno, Reno, Nevada 89557-0047, U.S.A.