Flotation of metal hydroxide precipitates. I. Flotation of copper hydroxide

Flotation of copper hydroxide precipitate has been investigated at total initial copper concentration 10−2M with sodium dodecylbenzenesulphonate (DBSNa) and dodecyldimethylbenzylammonium bromide (DDMBABr), both at initial concentration 10−4M. In particular, granulometric analysis of the precipitate and measurement of its electrokinetic potential were carried out over a wide range of the acidity of aqueous precipitate suspension in order to establish essential factors governing flotation of the precipitate. Moreover, adsorption of the flotation collectors by the precipitate as well as the rate of precipitate sedimentation were measured. The cationic collector (DDMBABr) neither influenced the electrokinetic potential of copper hydroxide precipitate nor adsorbed on its surface. Consequently, no flotation of copper hydroxide was observed with (DDMBABr). On the other hand, the anionic collector (DBSNa) influenced the electrokinetic potential of copper hydroxide within the same pH range where adsorption of DBSNa on the precipitate was observed and flotation was effective. The rate of flotation varied with the pH of the aqueous suspension. This dependence was irregular and presumably governed by the aggregation of precipitate grains since the rate of flotation increased with the size of the aggregates.