Flotation mechanism of chalcopyrite separation from sphalerite and pyrite using 2-aminobenzothiazole

The development of eco-friendly and effective collectors for sulfide mineral flotation is a key area of research. This study explores the selectivity of 2-Aminobenzothiazole (CS-1) as a novel collector for the flotation separation of chalcopyrite from sphalerite and pyrite, compared to the conventional collector, sodium ethyl xanthate (SEX). Micro-flotation tests showed that CS-1 effectively floated chalcopyrite with a recovery of over 90 % at pH 8, while flotation of sphalerite and pyrite was minimal (15.58 % and 13.54 %, respectively). Zeta potential and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses revealed that CS-1 adsorbs onto chalcopyrite, forming C-S-C functional groups that enhance chemical bonding between CS-1 and chalcopyrite. Density functional theory calculations confirmed the selective interaction of CS-1 with the Fe sites on the chalcopyrite, with minimal/negligible interactions on either sphalerite or pyrite. These findings highlight the distinct flotation behavior of chalcopyrite relative to sphalerite and pyrite. The selective adsorption of CS-1 on chalcopyrite surfaces under mildly alkaline conditions drives its distinct flotation response, suggesting the potential of CS-1 for the efficient separation of chalcopyrite from pyrite and sphalerite.