Experimental and theoretical investigation on the separation of chalcopyrite from biotite using xanthan gum as a selective depressant

Mweene, L and Khanal, GP and Kashinga, RJ (2021) Experimental and theoretical investigation on the separation of chalcopyrite from biotite using xanthan gum as a selective depressant. In: Separation and Purification Technology, 274 .

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Abstract

The separation of chalcopyrite from biotite using xanthan gum (XG) as a selective depressant was carried out experimentally and various types of intermolecular interactions present in the resultant complexes were analyzed theoretically. It was observed that the adsorption density of XG for chalcopyrite and biotite decreases with increase in pH. The Gibbs free energy of adsorption of XG at pH 8.5 ± 0.1 onto biotite (�32.5 kJ/mol) was more than that onto chalcopyrite (�23.3 kJ/mol), attesting to chemisorption process on both systems. The higher adsorption of XG onto biotite than onto chalcopyrite was further confirmed by theoretical analysis. Additionally, the intermolecular interactions of the formed complexes on the studied minerals were probed using Quantum theory of atoms in molecules (QTAIM) and Non-covalent interaction (NCI) tools. Both QAIM and NCI tools indicated that the adsorption of XG onto chalcopyrite and biotite is governed by weak, partial covalent hydrogen bonding and other non-covalent interactions. Flotation of biotite-chalcopyrite (1:1) system in the presence of 1200 g/t of XG as a selective depressant yielded a copper grade and recovery of 32.3 and 94.8 with a selectivity index (SI) of 35.8. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Publication:	Separation and Purification Technology
Publisher:	Elsevier B.V.
Additional Information:	The copyright for this article belongs to Elsevier B.V.
Department/Centre:	Division of Chemical Sciences > Inorganic & Physical Chemistry Division of Mechanical Sciences > Materials Engineering (formerly Metallurgy)
Date Deposited:	24 Aug 2021 09:40
Last Modified:	24 Aug 2021 09:40
URI:	http://eprints.iisc.ac.in/id/eprint/69226

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