FTIR and flotation investigation of adsorption of diethyl dithiophosphate on sulfide minerals

The interaction between aqueous sodium diethyl dithiophosphate and the sulfide minerals pyrite, pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite and sphalerite has been studied using FTIR spectroscopy and microflotation. The effect of pH, collector concentration and copper sulfate addition was examined. Iron-DTP surface compounds were formed on non-activated pyrite and pyrrhotite and copper-DTP was found on chalcopyrite. Copper-DTP was the surface product on the activated sulfide minerals. Adsorption of DTP on non-activated minerals was strongest at low pH, whereas activation lead to strong adsorption at neutral pH, too. The microflotation data agreed well with the adsorption data