NEW DIALCYDTHIOPHOPHATE COLLECTOR FOR FLOTATION OF SILVER-CONTAINING ORES

In order to create a more effective dialkyldithiophosphate collector used in combination with potassium butylxanthate in flotation of silver ores (m. Dukat), the effect of a number of dialkyldithiophosphate collectors was studied depending on their surface-active properties and hydrophobic ability. It is shown that their collective strength, with close hydrophobic ability, increases as their surfaceactive properties increase and reaches a maximum at a surface tension of 42-45.3 mN/m, and then begins to decrease. The reduction of the hydrophobic ability, even with their high surface-active properties, for example, for hydrolyzed samples, significantly reduces the recovery of silver. Taking into account the studied influence of surface activity and the hydrophobic ability of the reagents, a more efficient dialkyldithiophosphate collector has been developed, increasing silver recovery compared with the standard reagent by 1.8-3.4 %, depending on the ore enrichment. Improving the extraction of silver without reducing the selectivity of the process also contributes to the optimal cost ratio of the proposed dialkyldithiophosphate collector and xanthate.