Effect of Physisorption of Collector on Activation of Flotation of Sphalerite

The studies into the mechanism of activation of sphalerite flotation by ions of heavy metals show that neither ion exchange nor electrochemistry explain the experimental facts, namely, activation of flotation of copper mineral by lead ions, activation of sphalerite flotation by zinc, or flotation in the presence of non-conducting surface layer with silver or mercury. The authors put forward the hypothesis of activation due to the effect of physisorption of a collector in elementary event of flotation. It is possible to activate froth flotation by the products of nonstoichiometric interaction between xanthate and ions of some heavy metals. The influence of the scope of deviation from the stoichiometric relation of concentrations of xanthate and activation metal salt on the collectability of the interaction products is described. The activation efficiency of the interaction products is estimated using the criterion of ‘surface flow thickness’ of the film of collector derivatives at the gas-liquid interface.