2452 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
(0.1% w/v) of the xanthate and dithiophosphate were
prepared fresh for each experiment with distilled water.
As the thionocarbamate is insoluble in water, it was pre-
pared as a 0.1% solution in ethanol. The frother used was a
commercial quality polypropylene glycol (Cytec Aerofroth
65) prepared as a 0.25% w/v solution. The pH was adjusted
with dilute solutions of sodium hydroxide and nitric acid.
The flotation gas was either high purity synthetic air or
Figure 1. SEM element maps (× 50 magnification) of some size fractions of the nickel sulfide sample
(a) –1400 +1180 µm, (b) –1180 +850 µm, (c) –850 +600 µm and (d) –600 +425 µm
Table 1. SEM-EDX analysis of some pentlandite and millerite grains in the nickel sulfide sample
EDX spot analysis of pentlandite grains (normalised wt%)
Element #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Average σ
Ni (%)44.4 44.5 46.5 46.7 46.4 46.6 45.8 1.1
Fe (%)24.0 24.3 23.6 23.0 23.5 22.8 23.5 0.6
S (%)30.6 30.8 29.0 29.2 30.1 29.6 29.9 0.8
O (%)0.98 1.06 0.99 1.07 0.00 1.03 0.86 0.42
EDX spot analysis of millerite grains (normalised wt%)
Element #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Average σ
Ni (%)65.2 66.0 64.3 64.8 65.7 65.7 65.3 0.7
S (%)33.7 33.0 34.7 34.2 33.4 33.2 33.7 0.7
O (%)1.08 0.98 1.02 1.07 0.97 1.07 1.03 0.05
(0.1% w/v) of the xanthate and dithiophosphate were
prepared fresh for each experiment with distilled water.
As the thionocarbamate is insoluble in water, it was pre-
pared as a 0.1% solution in ethanol. The frother used was a
commercial quality polypropylene glycol (Cytec Aerofroth
65) prepared as a 0.25% w/v solution. The pH was adjusted
with dilute solutions of sodium hydroxide and nitric acid.
The flotation gas was either high purity synthetic air or
Figure 1. SEM element maps (× 50 magnification) of some size fractions of the nickel sulfide sample
(a) –1400 +1180 µm, (b) –1180 +850 µm, (c) –850 +600 µm and (d) –600 +425 µm
Table 1. SEM-EDX analysis of some pentlandite and millerite grains in the nickel sulfide sample
EDX spot analysis of pentlandite grains (normalised wt%)
Element #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Average σ
Ni (%)44.4 44.5 46.5 46.7 46.4 46.6 45.8 1.1
Fe (%)24.0 24.3 23.6 23.0 23.5 22.8 23.5 0.6
S (%)30.6 30.8 29.0 29.2 30.1 29.6 29.9 0.8
O (%)0.98 1.06 0.99 1.07 0.00 1.03 0.86 0.42
EDX spot analysis of millerite grains (normalised wt%)
Element #1 #2 #3 #4 #5 #6 Average σ
Ni (%)65.2 66.0 64.3 64.8 65.7 65.7 65.3 0.7
S (%)33.7 33.0 34.7 34.2 33.4 33.2 33.7 0.7
O (%)1.08 0.98 1.02 1.07 0.97 1.07 1.03 0.05