Xanthate decomposition in ore pulp under flotation conditions: Method development and effects of minerals on decomposition

Abstract The aim of the study was to develop methods to investigate xanthate decomposition in an ore pulp under simulated flotation conditions. A method was developed to collect, analyze, and quantify the decomposition products generated during the simulated flotation. After adequate validation, this setup was applied to study xanthate decomposition under: a) conditions similar to those typically used for sulfide ore flotation, and b) longer time scale, greater temperature, greater xanthate concentration, and reduced pH (all of which are expected to promote decomposition and enhance CS 2 generation). By examining the effects of time, ore loading and xanthate concentration, it was found that minerals have a major impact on decreasing xanthate decomposition due to multiple interactions occurring among xanthate and the minerals, leading to a variety of compounds with varying decomposition kinetics. The decomposition of these compounds altogether is believed to be slower compared to that of free xanthate ions in homogeneous solutions, so the overall decomposition is less in the presence of minerals. Understanding the decomposition behavior of those species is crucial for elucidation of the overall xanthate decomposition behavior in complex ore pulp systems.