1992 Volume 8 Issue 2 Pages 251-254
The flotation of metal ions was investigated using diphenyl- and diethyl dithiophosphoric acids. From their flotation behavior, the metal ions were classified into three groups. The ions of first group [Au(III), Pd(II), Sb(III), In(III), Cd(II), Bi(III), Cu(II) and Pb(II)] floated effectively under acidic conditions. The maximum yields of the ions of second group [Zn(II), Co(II) and Ni(II)] appeared at around pH=10. On the other hand, the floatability of ions belonging to the third group [Fe(III), Ga(III), Cr(III), Cr(VI), Ti(IV), Hf(IV), Al(III) and U(VI)] was lower than those of the first and second groups. These results could be fairly well understood in terms of HSAB (hard and soft acids and bases) prediction.
