Assesment of Flotation Activity of Thiol Collectors from the Analysis of Kinetic Curves of Pyrite Flotation

Test flotation of pyrite used potassium butyl xanthate and sodium butyl dithiophosphate as collectors. The study of the influence exerted by the nature of a sulfhydryl collector on the flotation ability of pyrite included pyrite samples $$-74+44~\mu$$ m in size. The findings on froth flotation of pyrite with addition of one or two traditional sulfhydryl collectors which display similar collecting action in treatment of pyrite at pH 8 are described. From the analysis of the kinetic curves of pyrite flotation, a new approach to the assessment of flotation activity of thiol collectors is proposed.