An environmental-friendly sphalerite depressant (2-Hydroxyphosphonoacetic Acid) for the selective flotation separation of sphalerite from galena

In this work, HPAA (2-Hydroxyphosphonoacetic Acid) was explored as a novel sphalerite depressant for the selective flotation of sphalerite and galena. The depression performances and mechanisms were investigated through micro-flotation tests and various characterization techniques. Micro-flotation tests showed that HPAA selectively inhibited sphalerite but barely affected the flotation of galena at board pH range in Sodium Isobutyl Xanthate system (SIBX). Zeta potential, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR) and XPS results suggested that HPAA was tended to adsorb on sphalerite surface chemically in the form of a six-membered chelating ring through the complexation of PO32- and COO- with Zn atoms on sphalerite surface. Moreover, SIBX could substitute HPAA from galena surface while almost didn't influence the adsorption of HPAA on sphalerite surface, which rendered galena surface hydrophobic and sphalerite surface hydrophilic. HPAA had potential application prospect because of the good selectivity and environmental compatibility. (C) 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.