Thermodynamic aspects of the selection of sulfur-containing collectors during flotation of sulfide ores

Abstract

Investigations into the complexing ability of sulfur-containing collectors relative to metal ions (Cu2+, Ni2+, Fe2+, Co2+) at 298 K and an ion force of 0.075–0.75 mol/L (NaNO3) are carried out. It is established that potassium dibutyl dithiophosphate possesses the largest affinity to metal ions among phosphorus-containing collectors, while the maximal complexing ability is characteristic of the Co2+ ion. Series of thermal stability are found; the variations in enthalpy, entropy, and the Gibbs energy, as well as temperature-dependent and temperature-independent contributions of complexes of metal ions with collector anions into ΔG 0, are calculated.