Evaluation of Contact Angle on Pyrite Surface

In the present paper, the contact angle measurements using six different xanthate solutions and distilled water were studied on twelve polished pyrite surfaces using sessile drop method. The 10% solutions of three potassium and three sodium xanthates were used. The pyrite samples from six countries and ten different deposits were utilized. The chemical composition of pyrites was studied using EDX microanalysis which proved that pyrite samples were not heterogenic. No relation or dependence between the contact angle and the chemical composition (i.e., Fe: S ratios) was found. The average values of contact angles measured using potassium and sodium xanthates were lower than the values of contact angle measured using distilled water. From these measurements can be concluded, that the pyrite samples are favourably wetted by either potassium or sodium xanthates than distilled water in flotation environment. The comparison of potassium and sodium xanthates showed better suitability of the potassium xanthates for the possible pyrite flotation (lower contact angle was measured on eight out of twelve samples for potasium xanthates). Pyrite samples Sokolov, Jachymov and Kutna Hora showed the lowest average contact angle values from all xanthates using potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) with average values of 34,80 degrees, 42,94 degrees and 31,01 degrees respectively. The sodium xanthates would be more appropriate for the Navajun 2 and 3, Jachymov Sadon, and Norilsk pyrite samples. Very small differences in average contact angle values were obtained when potassium/sodium ethyl and isobutyl xanthates were compared. The minimum average values of contact angle for six out of twelve samples and for five out of eight samples in hydrothermal deposits were measured using ethyl xanthates what makes them the most suitable collectors for the pyrite samples from hydrothermal deposits and for pyrites in general. Even smaller variation in the results was showed using isobutyl xanthates with the highest average values of contact angle what makes them not suitable as the collectors for pyrite samples used in this study. The average value of contact angle measured using SIBX was 58,50 degrees.