Flotation of oxidized minerals of copper using a new synthetic chelating reagent as collector

A new synthetic reagent containing a mixed aliphatic-aromatic structure, with a hydrocarbon chain and an aminothiophenol chelating group, has proven to be an effective collector for the flotation of chrysocolla minerals. The flotation is optimum in the narrow pH range of 5.5 to 6, falls sharply at pH 5, and is moderate in the pH range 7 to 11, Infrared spectra indicate that copper aminothiophenolate chelates are formed on the surface of the chrysocolla under the conditions of maximum flotation. (C) 1997 Elsevier Science B.V.