X-ray photoelectron study of surface compounds formed during flotation of minerals

The compounds formed on the surface of minerals under the action of flotation reagents have been studied by ESCA. On a ZnS surface treated with CuSO4 solution, Cu2S and SO 42− were identified. The quantity of Cu2S increased and that of SO 42− decreased with increased Fe content in ZnS. After treatment of PbS with K2Cr2O7 solution, a combination of Cr2O3 and Pb(OH)2, or PbCr2O4 was formed on the surface. The action of Pb(NO3)2 solution on Sb2S3 led to the formation of PbSb2S4 type compounds. HgO or HgS were formed on an Sb2S3 surface after treatment with (C2H5)2NC6H4HGOCOCH3 solution. In all cases excluding the PbS and K2Cr2O7 system the quantity of products formed on the surface increased with reagent concentration.