3152 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
adsorption were consistent with other studies that evalu-
ated the impact of galvanic interactions and pulp chemistry
on the flotation of chalcopyrite. For example, Yang et al.
(2021) and Forbes et al. (2018) reported the deleterious
influence of both pyrrhotite and pyrite on the flotation of
chalcopyrite, attributing these effects to the formation of
hydrophilic surface species due to galvanic interactions.
The complex interaction among these factors demonstrates
the diverse characteristics of chalcopyrite flotation, where
the efficiency of collector adsorption acts as a crucial mea-
sure of overall efficacy.
Galvanic Interaction and Pulp Chemistry Influence on
the Electrochemical Behaviour of Chalcopyrite
The interaction between chalcopyrite and other sulphide
minerals in a flotation pulp constitutes a dynamic interplay
among electrochemically active minerals, leading to the
formation of galvanic cells, where one mineral acts as the
anode and the other as the cathode (Ekmekçi and Demirel,
1997 Lee et al., 2022). This interaction has the potential
to impact the flotation behaviour of the targeted sulphide
mineral(s), such as chalcopyrite (Ekmekçi and Demirel,
1997 Owusu et al., 2014). Furthermore, several studies
illustrate the fundamental implications of pulp chemistry
variables as controls for the formation of hydrophobicity-
inducing surface species. For instance, Gokepe (2002)
suggested that changes in pulp potential (Eh) and pH can
dictate which surface species form on the mineral during
flotation.
This study examined the electrochemical behaviour of
chalcopyrite in interaction with pyrrhotite superstructures
at various pH and redox potential levels to investigate how
pulp chemistry influences the oxidation of chalcopyrite and
its interaction with a collector. The rest potential profile
results for chalcopyrite in the presence and absence of pyr-
rhotite superstructures under varying pH and redox poten-
tial conditions are presented in Figure 5 and Table 2.
Figure 5a–b displays chalcopyrite’s varied rest poten-
tials from t =0 to 300s in the absence of a collector, fol-
lowed by the potentials recorded from 300s to 600s after
collector addition. The results show that the interaction
between chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite, along with changes in
pulp chemistry variables, altered the rest potential of chal-
copyrite. Table 2 indicates that the highest rest potential for
chalcopyrite was achieved at pH 9.5 and a redox potential
of –165 mV. Conversely, at pH 9 and a redox potential of
Figure 5. Rest potential profiles of chalcopyrite (A) and chalcopyrite+monoclinic pyrrhotite (B) under diverse pulp chemistry
conditions, both in the absence and presence of a collector
adsorption were consistent with other studies that evalu-
ated the impact of galvanic interactions and pulp chemistry
on the flotation of chalcopyrite. For example, Yang et al.
(2021) and Forbes et al. (2018) reported the deleterious
influence of both pyrrhotite and pyrite on the flotation of
chalcopyrite, attributing these effects to the formation of
hydrophilic surface species due to galvanic interactions.
The complex interaction among these factors demonstrates
the diverse characteristics of chalcopyrite flotation, where
the efficiency of collector adsorption acts as a crucial mea-
sure of overall efficacy.
Galvanic Interaction and Pulp Chemistry Influence on
the Electrochemical Behaviour of Chalcopyrite
The interaction between chalcopyrite and other sulphide
minerals in a flotation pulp constitutes a dynamic interplay
among electrochemically active minerals, leading to the
formation of galvanic cells, where one mineral acts as the
anode and the other as the cathode (Ekmekçi and Demirel,
1997 Lee et al., 2022). This interaction has the potential
to impact the flotation behaviour of the targeted sulphide
mineral(s), such as chalcopyrite (Ekmekçi and Demirel,
1997 Owusu et al., 2014). Furthermore, several studies
illustrate the fundamental implications of pulp chemistry
variables as controls for the formation of hydrophobicity-
inducing surface species. For instance, Gokepe (2002)
suggested that changes in pulp potential (Eh) and pH can
dictate which surface species form on the mineral during
flotation.
This study examined the electrochemical behaviour of
chalcopyrite in interaction with pyrrhotite superstructures
at various pH and redox potential levels to investigate how
pulp chemistry influences the oxidation of chalcopyrite and
its interaction with a collector. The rest potential profile
results for chalcopyrite in the presence and absence of pyr-
rhotite superstructures under varying pH and redox poten-
tial conditions are presented in Figure 5 and Table 2.
Figure 5a–b displays chalcopyrite’s varied rest poten-
tials from t =0 to 300s in the absence of a collector, fol-
lowed by the potentials recorded from 300s to 600s after
collector addition. The results show that the interaction
between chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite, along with changes in
pulp chemistry variables, altered the rest potential of chal-
copyrite. Table 2 indicates that the highest rest potential for
chalcopyrite was achieved at pH 9.5 and a redox potential
of –165 mV. Conversely, at pH 9 and a redox potential of
Figure 5. Rest potential profiles of chalcopyrite (A) and chalcopyrite+monoclinic pyrrhotite (B) under diverse pulp chemistry
conditions, both in the absence and presence of a collector