Butyl-Xanthate Adsorption on the Surface of Sulfide Minerals under Conditions of their Preliminary Treatment with Water Electrolysis Products according to Atomic-Force Microscopy and Infrared Fourier Spectroscopy Data

Abstract

The morphology of sphalerite, galena, and chalcopyrite surfaces and the features of potassium butyl xanthate (PBX) adsorption on them under conditions of preliminary mineral treatment with water electrolysis products are studied using atomic-force microscopy and diffuse reflectance IR (infrared) Fourier spectroscopy. It is revealed that practically all types of treatment with electrochemically modified water (the product of non-diafragm treatment, anolyte, and catholyte) coarsens the surface relief of the minerals due to the formation of surface aggregates with different sizes. On the contrary, after chalcopyrite is treated with anolyte, its surface relief become smoother. It is found that water electrolysis products differently affect the chemical and physical types of PBX adsorption on the surface of the minerals under investigation. The performed experiments indicate that a complex of atomic-force microscopy and IR Fourier spectroscopy techniques is an efficient ex situ approach for monitoring the surface state of sulfide minerals and the direct study of PBX adsorption products.