Influence of galvanic interaction between chalcopyrite and galena on electrochemical and flotation behaviour of chalcopyrite

Abstract Chalcopyrite is often associated with galena in nature, which brings great difficulties to the flotation recovery of chalcopyrite. One of the main reasons for these difficulties is that galvanic interaction between chalcopyrite and galena has a significant effect on the oxidation and flotation behavior of chalcopyrite. In this paper, density functional theory and cyclic voltammetry measurement were used to study galvanic interaction between chalcopyrite and galena and its effect on the adsorption of oxygen and xanthate molecules on chalcopyrite (0 0 1) surface. The results show that the galvanic interaction inhibits the dissociation of oxygen molecules on the surface of chalcopyrite (0 0 1), and it also weakens the bonding DOS of O-Fe bonds, S-Cu bonds and S-Fe bonds, which may be detrimental to the adsorption of xanthate and oxygen molecules on the surface of chalcopyrite (0 0 1). The cyclic voltammetry measurements results show that compared with pure chalcopyrite and pure galena electrode, the oxidation peak intensity of the electrode with a mass ratio of chalcopyrite and galena of 1:1 near 0.4 V is weaker at pH 9.18 and a butyl xanthate concentration of 0.001 mol/L, which is consistent with the results of DFT studies.