Separation of pyrite from chalcopyrite with organic depressant CTP

The Cu-S flotation separation using a new organic depressant CTP has been worked out successfully in laboratory and on industrial scale in Dexin Copper Mine. The testing results showed that CTP is a new effective organic depressant of pyrite with good selectivity on Cu-S separation in low alkaline medium; copper indices of the new Cu-S separation process are Cu concentrate with a grade over 24 % and Cu recovery above 97 %. The CTP dosage is about 45 similar to 50 g/t, the lime dosage is greatly reduced from 5.14 kg/t to 1.30 kg/t as compared with the traditional reagent system; the recoveries of Au and Mo in the copper concentrate are increased by 1.6 % and 23.88 %, respectively. In addition, the pyrite can be recovered from Cu tailing by flotation. The interaction mechanism of CTP with sulfide has been studied too. The anion of CTP can selectively interact with the surface of pyrite by chemical adsorption; CTP can disadsorb the xanthate absorbed on pyrite surface in the mixed concentrate pulp.