Wettability and floatability of galena—xanthate system as a function of solution surface tension

Abstract The wettability of galena pre-treated with n-alkyl xanthates of increasing hydrocarbon chain (from methyl to decyl) has been studied as a function of solution surface tension, γ 1v . As the hydrocarbon chain length increases the critical surface tension of wetting, γ c , established in methanol solutions decreases from 30 to 26 mN m −1 and the slope of the wettability lines, β, decreases to zero, then becomes increasingly negative approaching the β value of paraffin wax. The wettability of galena in decyl xanthate solutions was also studied and compared with pre-xanthated galena in methanol solutions. The floatability of pre-xanthated galena as well as the bulk lead xanthate of increasing hydrocarbon chain length was evaluated in relation to γ 1v . A correlation between the minimum flotation recoveries and γ c values is observed. Above these γ c values, increasingly higher γ 1v , values are required for the flotation of particles as the hydrocarbon chain length of xanthate decreases.