Adsorption of Polysaccharides and Related Compounds Onto Coal and Their Effect on the Flotation of Coal and Pyrite

Abstract While polysaccharides are known to depress pyrite during coal flotation, many of them are also known to depress coal. This report gives a quantification of their adsorption onto Pittsburgh seam coal and an evaluation of the polysaccharide types and flotation conditions which may allow them to depress pyrite without, at the same time, also depressing the coal. Their mechanism of adsorption onto coal appears to be by hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction. Several effective pyrite depressants have been identified.