Role of pH on the adsorption of xanthate and dithiophosphinate onto galena

In the concentrators of a Mexican mining company has been observed that the pH of the flotation has a significant effect on the galena recovery: the increase of pH from 7.5 to 9.5 in the Pb/Cu flotation circuit, resulted in a decrease of about 10% of lead recovery. In the present investigation, experimental models and techniques were developed to study the effect of pH on xanthate and di-isobutyl dithiophosphinate adsorption onto galena. The results obtained by UV / Vis spectroscopy showed that once galena surface has been slightly oxidised by the dissolved oxygen of the aqueous suspension, adsorption of both surfactants increases significantly, being adversely affected by the increase of pH from 5.5 to 9.5. Microflotation measurements performed for both surfactants support these findings. Thermodynamic simulation of the system suggests that the observed behaviour is due to the nature of the solid species formed on the galena surface at the particular pH: lead sulfate (PbSO4) under neutral and slightly acid conditions, and the basic sulfate (2PbO·PbSO4) under neutral and slightly alkaline conditions, as well as to their respective solubility. Infrared spectrometry confirmed the occurrence of sulfate onto galena particles, with a higher concentration for the acid pre-conditioning compared to the alkaline pre-conditioning.