Sulfomethylation of Radiata Pine Kraft Lignin and Its Use as a Molybdenite Depressant in Selective Chalcopyrite-Molybdenite Separation by Flotation

Sulfomethylation of radiata pine kraft lignin was performed using formaldehyde and sodium sulfite under alkaline conditions to determine its potential as a mineral depressant for the separation of molybdenite and chalcopyrite by froth flotation. Optimal conditions for the sulfomethylation reaction were 20% (w/w) Na2SO3 at 130 degrees C for 4.2 h, which resulted in lignin with a sulfonate content of 2.2 mmol/g. Microflotation assays showed that the optimized sulfomethylated kraft lignin (OSKL) depressed the molybdenite in flotation by 93% using 200 mg/L OSKL, while only 5% chalcopyrite depression was achieved. The performance of OSKL was compared with those of commercial lignosulfonates, and the OSKL displayed a better ability to separate molybdenite and chalcopyrite, even at lower concentration doses. FTIR and H-1-NMR analyses showed that sulfonic groups were incorporated into the C5 position of the aromatic ring and into the aliphatic chain of the OSKL. The hydroxymethyl content of the OSKL was increased, and most beta-0-4', beta-1' and beta-5 bonds were broken, with the exception of the beta-beta' bond. Sulfomethylation gives kraft lignin the chemical characteristics of a wood-based molybdenite depressant, making it an alternative to current reagents used in the chalcopyritemolybdenite flotation process.