Collector interaction with mineral surfaces has long been studied. Little work has been done, however, on directly quantifying reagent adsorption, certainly under industrial process conditions. The use of a novel surface analysis technique, Headspace Analysis Gas-phase Infrared Spectroscopy (HAGIS), is suggested for quantification of adsorbed reagents in mineral processing. As a first exercise, a test system of xanthate adsorption onto lead sulphide minerals was studied. A survey of possible calibration standards (pure xanthate, a synthetic lead-xanthate, galena (PbS) and a lead sulphide ore conditioned with xanthate) resulted in linear curves for all four cases. The quantification of isopropyl xanthate adsorption onto batch flotation products (concentrate and tail) was used to determine that ore standards gave the most accurate results. The technique was also tested for quantification of adsorbed amines. Two collectors, dodecylamine and diphenylguanidine, and a depressant, triethylenetetramine, were studied. A common calibration curve was prepared using diphenylguanidine adsorbed on Inco matte. Results show that the HAGIS technique can easily be used to quantify adsorbed amines. It is concluded that the HAGIS technique is a powerful new tool for the quantitative determination of adsorbed reagents. The xanthate study showed the use of ores as standards produces the best calibration. The amine study introduced the possibility of analyzing reagent mixtures.

Finch, J. A. (Supervisor)