硫化鉱物の単極電位と浮遊性

抄録

In this study, the electrode potential of sulphide minerals, pyrite and galena, were measured at first in some electrolyte solution such as KCI, NaCI, KCN, NaOH or Na₂S with varying the electrolyte concentration ; and then the electrode potential and the floatability were also measured with varying pH value both in xanthate solutions and in solutions containing xanthate and KCN in order to discuss the relation between the electrode potential of sulphide minerals and their floatability.
In a solution of KCN, Na₂S or NaOH, the electrode potentials of pyrite and galena are much affected decreasingly with increasing of the electrolyte, concentration. Conversely, in a solution of NaCI or KCI the increase in electrolyte concentration makes a slight change of the electrode potential. In a xanthate solution with varying pH, the electrode potential of sulphide minerals changes from the potential governed by the xanthate ion to the potential governed by hydroxyl ion at the pH value prescribed by the xanthate concentration. Also, in the xathate solution containing potassium cyanide, it changes from the potential governed by xanthate ion to the potential governed by cyanide ion. The floatability of sulphide minerals remarkably decreases at pH value where the electrode potential changes.
From the experimental results, it was confirmed that the electrode potential of minerals relates closely with their floatability i, e. collection by xanthate and depression by alkali or cyanide.