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Improving Flotation Separation of Mg(OH)2-Depressed Chalcopyrite and Pyrite by EDTA Modification: A Promising Method for Sustainable Cu Production

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Abstract

Flotation separation of chalcopyrite/pyrite mixtures under Mg(OH)2 depression effectively limits pyrite entrainment into Cu concentrates. However, the Cu concentrate is still negatively affected by the low selectivity of depression by Mg(OH)2 and unavoidable floatability activation of pyrite by surface Cu contamination via galvanic effects. In this study, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) was used to control the effects of Mg(OH)2 depression on the recoveries of chalcopyrite and pyrite, and to restrict Cu activation in pyrite flotation. Compared with EDTA-free systems, a system with the optimal EDTA dosage (5 × 10−5 M EDTA for 1 × 10−2 M Mg) gave better separation of Mg(OH)2-depressed chalcopyrite and pyrite, with recoveries varying from 63.5 to 94.0% (chalcopyrite) and from 49.9 to 47.5% (pyrite), respectively. Zeta potential measurements and micro-zone X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (μ-XPS) indicated that Mg(OH)2 detachment was achieved because the surface electropositivity of the Mg(OH)2 colloid decreased because of EDTA chemisorption on its surface as Mg(EDTA)2−. The thermal field-emission scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy and μ-XPS analysis showed that the preferential removal of surface Cu decelerated Mg(OH)2 removal from the pyrite surface. The results of this study show that moderate EDTA dosages potentially enable effective separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite. EDTA modification is anticipated to optimize the effect of Mg(OH)2 depression on the flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite. This would facilitate cleaner production in Cu pyrometallurgical process.

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Acknowledgements

The authors sincerely thank the Kagami Memorial Research Institute for Materials Science and Technology, and the Materials Characterization Central Laboratory, Waseda University for assistance with FE-SEM–EDS and μ-XPS analysis, respectively. Jifeng Xue gratefully acknowledges the financial support of the China Scholarship Council. We thank Helen McPherson, PhD, from Edanz (https://jp.edanz.com/ac) for editing a draft of this manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Creative Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan

    Jifeng Xue

  2. Faculty of Science and Engineering, Waseda University, 3-4-1 Okubo, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 169-8555, Japan

    Keishi Oyama, Shigeshi Fuchida & Chiharu Tokoro

  3. Department of Marine Resources and Energy, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology, 4-5-7 Konan, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8477, Japan

    Shigeshi Fuchida

  4. Faculty of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, 7-3-1 Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, 113-8656, Japan

    Chiharu Tokoro

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  1. Jifeng Xue
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Xue, J., Oyama, K., Fuchida, S. et al. Improving Flotation Separation of Mg(OH)2-Depressed Chalcopyrite and Pyrite by EDTA Modification: A Promising Method for Sustainable Cu Production. J. Sustain. Metall. 9, 1647–1659 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-023-00754-6

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