Investigating the selectivity of calcium hypochlorite for flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite pre-adsorbed collector

Bulk flotation is usually used in the flotation of Cu-Fe sulfide ore, and the subsequent concentrate is difficult to be separated because the minerals have adsorbed the collector. In this paper, flotation tests showed that calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2) had a stronger depression effect on pyrite pre-adsorbed sodium butyl xanthate (SBX), while having a negligible depressive effect on chalcopyrite. A copper concentrate with Cu grade of 33.32% and Cu recovery of 94.47% could be obtained from flotation tests of mixed minerals. The depression performance and mechanism of Ca(ClO)2 were studied by contact angle measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses, the results suggested that Ca(ClO)2 can decomposes SBX on the pyrite surface and oxidizes the mineral surface to form hydrophilic substances, which enhances the hydrophilicity of the pyrite surface. In contrast, Ca(ClO)2 has little effect on chalcopyrite pre-adsorbed SBX, the possible depression model is discussed.