The influence of collectors containing diisobutyldithiophosphinate on the flotation of sulfides and platinum-group metals of copper-nickel ores

The paper provides the results of studies into the interaction between Aerophine 3418A, Aerophine 3416, Aerophine 3406 collectors containing diisobutyldithiophosphinate (DIP) and butyl xanthate with pyrrhotite, pentlandite, platinum black and cooperite by measuring the electrode potential and determination of DIP adsorption forms using extractive spectrophotometry. It was shown that butyl xanthate reduces the electrode potential to a greater extent compared to DIP-containing collectors. The value of electrode potential shift in the presence of collectors decreases in the series: platinum black — pentlandite — pyrrhotite. Pentlandite and pyrrhotite interaction with butyl xanthate and DIP mainly results in the molecular form - disulfide - formed on the surface with the order of magnitude less compounds of collectors with metal. After interaction with butyl xanthate, the sorption layer on cooperite contained disulfide only, and both disulfide and the complex compound of Pt with DIP in case of DIP. It was demonstrated that DIP containing collectors have a greater collecting and hydrophobic ability than butyl xanthate to pentlandite and pyrrhotite. The maximum hydrophobic effect is achieved using a composition of butyl xanthate and DIP-containing collectors with a ratio of 1:1 to 1:3. The effectiveness of Aerophine 3416 and butyl xanthate compositions in bulk flotation of platinum-copper-nickel ores is shown.