Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Oxygen reduction on bornite (Cu5FeS4) in alkaline medium

  • Published:
Journal of Applied Electrochemistry Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The electroreduction of molecular oxygen is investigated between −0.1 and −0.5V vs SHE on bornite, Cu5FeS4, at pH9.2 and 14, by means of cyclic voltammetry (CV) and stationary voltammetry (SV), using a double channel electrode flow cell (DCEFC). Using an E/pH diagram established in this work, the CV results suggest that the bornite surface is stable between −0.1 and −0.5V then oxidized to CuS and Fe(OH)3 above −0.1V whereas, below −0.5V the mineral reduces to metal sulphides: Cu2S and FeS. The SV results show that oxygen is reduced to peroxide ions, HO2−. At pH9.2 the generated sulphide ions hinder the oxidation of HO2− on the collector electrode of the DCEFC, due to the formation of a blocking surface layer of elemental sulphur, S, impeding the determination of the kinetic parameters, k1 (direct way) and k 2 (indirect way) of the oxygen electroreduction reaction. In contrast, at pH14, as soluble polysulphides are formed, it was possible to determine these parameters, showing that the bornite is a poor catalyst for oxygen reduction. At pH14, in the presence of potassium ethylxanthate, generally used as a flotation collector, the ethylxanthate ions, C2H5OCSSO−, are oxidized by HO2− to perxanthates, ROCSSO−, while at pH9.2 the oxygen reduction is inhibited due to ethylxanthate chemisoption on the bornite surface.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. R. Woods, IV Meet. of the South. Hemisph. on Mineral Tech. and III Latinam. Congress on ‘Froth Flotation’ (edited by S. Castro, J. Alvarez) (1994), p. 1.

  2. T. Biegler, D. A. J. Rand and R. Woods, J. Electroanal. Chem. 60 (1975) 151.

    Google Scholar 

  3. I. N. Plaskin and S. V. Bessonov, Proceedings of the 2nd International Congress ‘Surface Activity’, Vol. 3 (1957), p. 361.

    Google Scholar 

  4. E. Yeager, Electrochim. Acta 29 (1984) 1527.

    Google Scholar 

  5. W. J. Albery and M. L. Hitchman, ‘Ring-Disc Electrodes’, Clarendon Press, Oxford (1971), pp. 17–28.

    Google Scholar 

  6. R. G. Compton and P. R. Unwin, J. Electroanal. Chem. 205 (1986) 1.

    Google Scholar 

  7. M. H. Jones and J. T. Woodcock, Int. J. Miner. Process 5 (1978) 285.

    Google Scholar 

  8. G. Berglund and E. Forssberg, 1988 Proceedings of the International Symposium on Electrochemistry in Mineral Processes II (edited by P. E. Richardson, and R. Woods), Vol. 88–21, p. 183.

  9. R. Woods, C. I. Basilio, D. S. Kim and R. H. Yoon, Int. J. Miner. Process. 42 (1994) 215.

    Google Scholar 

  10. N. Heller-Ling, G. Poillerat, J. F. Koenig, J. L. Gautier and P. Chartier, Electrochim. Acta 39 (1994) 1669.

    Google Scholar 

  11. A. N. Buckley, I. C. Hamilton and R. Woods, J. Appl. Electrochem. 14 (1984) 63.

    Google Scholar 

  12. J. B. Zachwieja, G. W. Walker and P. E. Richardson, Miner. Metall. Process. 4(3) (1987) 146

    Google Scholar 

  13. M. Pourbaix, ‘Atlas of Electrochemical Equilibria in Aqueous Solutions’, Nace-Cebelcor. Brussels.(1974) pp. 98, 308, 385 and 546.

    Google Scholar 

  14. D. A. J. Rand, J. Electroanal. Chem. 83 (1977) 19.

    Google Scholar 

  15. R. J. Biernat and R. G. Robins, Electrochim. Acta 17 (1972) 1261.

    Google Scholar 

  16. R. Woods, R. H. Yoon and C. A. Young, Int. J. Min. Proc. 20 (1987) 109.

    Google Scholar 

  17. D. F. A. Koch and R. Mc. Intyre, J. Electroanal. Chem. 71 (1976) 285.

    Google Scholar 

  18. J. Szynkarczuk, P. G. Komorowski and J. C. Donini, Electrochim. Acta 40 (1995) 487.

    Google Scholar 

  19. H. S. Wroblowa, Y. C. Pan and G. Razumney, J. Electroanal. Chem. 69 (1976) 195.

    Google Scholar 

  20. R. W. Zurilla, R. K. Sen and E. Yeager, J. Electrochem. Soc. 125 (1978) 1103.

    Google Scholar 

  21. A. J. Appleby and M. Savy, J. Electroanal. Chem. 92 (1978) 15.

    Google Scholar 

  22. H. Behret, H. Binder, W. Clauberg and G. Sandstede, Electrochim. Acta 23 (1978) 1023.

    Google Scholar 

  23. V. S. Vilinskaya, N. G. Bulavina, V. Y. Shepelev and R. K. H. Burshtein, Elektrokhimiya 15 (1979) 932.

    Google Scholar 

  24. F. Van Den Brink, W. Visscher and E. Barendrecht, J. Electroanal. Chem. 172 (1984) 301.

    Google Scholar 

  25. S. Park, S. Ho, S. Aruliah, M. F. Weber, C. A. Ward, R. D. Venter and S. Srinivasan. J. Electrochem. Soc. 133 (1986) 1641.

    Google Scholar 

  26. V. Jovancicevic and J. O'M. Bockris, Ibid. 133 (1986) 1797.

    Google Scholar 

  27. J. L. Gautier, A. Restovic and P. Chartier. J. Appl. Electrochem. 19 (1989) 28.

    Google Scholar 

  28. N. Anastasijevic, Z. M. Dmiitrijevic and R. R. Adzic. Electrochim. Acta 27 (1992) 457.

    Google Scholar 

  29. S. Strbac, N. A. Anastasijevic and R. R. Adzic, J. Electroanal. Chem. 323 (1992) 179.

    Google Scholar 

  30. J. Ortiz and J. L. Gautier, Ibid. 391 (1995) 111.

    Google Scholar 

  31. N. Heller-Ling, M. Prestat, J. L. Gautier, J. F. Koenig, G. Poillerat and P. Chartier, Electrochim. Acta 42 (1997) 197.

    Google Scholar 

  32. I. C. Hamilton and R. Woods. J. Appl. Electrochem. 13 (1983) 783.

    Google Scholar 

  33. A. C. Buckley, I. C. Hamilton and R. Woods, J. Electroanal. Chem. 216 (1987) 213.

    Google Scholar 

  34. D. Bauer, M. Lamache, O. Huynh Thi, Electrochim. Acta 26 (1981) 33.

    Google Scholar 

  35. R. Woods, J. Phys. Chem. 75 (1971) 354.

    Google Scholar 

  36. A. H. Usul, R. Tolun, Int. J. Min. Proc. 1 (1974) 135.

    Google Scholar 

  37. R. N. Tipman and J. Leja, Colloid and Polymer Sci. 253 (1975) 4.

    Google Scholar 

  38. M. H. Jones and J. T. Woodcock, Int. J. Min. Proc. 10 (1983) 1.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratorio de Electroquimica, Departamento de Quimica de Materiales, Faculdad de Quimica y Biologia, Universidad de Santiago de Chile, C.C 33040, Santiago, Chile

    J. L. Gautier & J. Ortiz

  2. Laboratoire d'Electrochimie et Chimie-Physique du Corps Solide, Faculté de Chimie, URA CNRS 405, Université Louis Pasteur, rue Blaise Pascal, 67000, Strasbourg, France

    N. Heller-Ling, G. Poillerat & P. Chartier

Authors
  1. J. L. Gautier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. J. Ortiz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. N. Heller-Ling
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. G. Poillerat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. P. Chartier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Gautier, J.L., Ortiz, J., Heller-Ling, N. et al. Oxygen reduction on bornite (Cu5FeS4) in alkaline medium. Journal of Applied Electrochemistry 28, 827–834 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003480225077

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1003480225077

Search

Navigation