AN ELECTROCHEMICAL METHOD FOR THE STUDY OF THE FLOTATION CHEMISTRY OFSPHALERITE

When copper or lead-activated sphalerite is mounted in carbon paste, a n electrode is obtained which is suitable for use in dynamic electroch emical measurements. Voltammograms of copper-activated sphalerite in c arbon paste show well-defined anodic and cathodic waves which respond in a complex manner to changes in experimental conditions. When the el ectrodes are contacted with solutions containing ethyl xanthate, two o xidation waves are observed. The first of these is a highly irreversib le surface-area-limited adsorption process, and the second is a transp ort-controlled reaction. This work confirms the general belief that th e flotation chemistry of sphalerite is essentially electrochemical in nature, and provides a tool which can be used to study the activation process as well as the reactions of collectors and other reagents with activated sphalerite, and perhaps in the control of the flotation pro cess.