USE OF SURFACE COMPLEXATION MODELS IN SULFIDE MINERAL FLOTATION

Surface complexation modelling is introduced to investigate the surfac e reactions in a mixed galena and sphalerite flotation system. Compute r-assisted calculations based on surface complexation modelling (SCM) are performed to obtain the mineral surface distribution of ethyl xant hate as well as carbonate and excess sulphide ions as a function of pH , The significance of pc is demonstrated by computing the mineral surf ace speciation in a flotation system with xanthate and excess of sulph ide ions. The results are used to evaluate the influences of pH, pe, t he concentration of xanthate, sulphide or carbonate ions to the minera l flotability. The flotation mechanisms in galena-sphalerite system an discussed based on SCM. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.