Efficient and Green Flotation Separation of Molybdenite from Chalcopyrite Using 1-Thioglycerol as Depressant

The effective and environmental separation of chalcopyrite and molybdenite has long presented a challenge in mineral processing due to their similar floatability and close association at room temperature. This study explores the non-toxic 1-thioglycerol (1-TG) as a selective depressant for chalcopyr...

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Main Authors: Feng Jiang, Shuai He, Wei Sun, Yuanjia Luo, Honghu Tang
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-03-01
Series:Metals
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/3/299
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author Feng Jiang
Shuai He
Wei Sun
Yuanjia Luo
Honghu Tang
author_facet Feng Jiang
Shuai He
Wei Sun
Yuanjia Luo
Honghu Tang
author_sort Feng Jiang
collection DOAJ
description The effective and environmental separation of chalcopyrite and molybdenite has long presented a challenge in mineral processing due to their similar floatability and close association at room temperature. This study explores the non-toxic 1-thioglycerol (1-TG) as a selective depressant for chalcopyrite–molybdenite flotation separation. An impressive separation effect was realized through single-mineral and mixed-mineral flotation experiments when using 1-TG as a depressant and kerosene as a collector. Contact angle measurements, zeta potential tests, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirm the selective adsorption of 1-TG on the chalcopyrite surface, leading to enhanced surface hydrophilicity and the inhibition of collector adsorption. The depression mechanism is further elucidated through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which demonstrates that it occurs via chemosorption between the thiol group in 1-TG and active iron sites on the chalcopyrite surface. These findings provide a potential efficient depressant for chalcopyrite–molybdenite flotation separation with low dosage, environmental friendliness, and human harmlessness.
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spelling doaj-art-1d3effeed6a2440abfd79846ef011db32025-08-20T03:43:20ZengMDPI AGMetals2075-47012025-03-0115329910.3390/met15030299Efficient and Green Flotation Separation of Molybdenite from Chalcopyrite Using 1-Thioglycerol as DepressantFeng Jiang0Shuai He1Wei Sun2Yuanjia Luo3Honghu Tang4School of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaSchool of Minerals Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083, ChinaThe effective and environmental separation of chalcopyrite and molybdenite has long presented a challenge in mineral processing due to their similar floatability and close association at room temperature. This study explores the non-toxic 1-thioglycerol (1-TG) as a selective depressant for chalcopyrite–molybdenite flotation separation. An impressive separation effect was realized through single-mineral and mixed-mineral flotation experiments when using 1-TG as a depressant and kerosene as a collector. Contact angle measurements, zeta potential tests, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) confirm the selective adsorption of 1-TG on the chalcopyrite surface, leading to enhanced surface hydrophilicity and the inhibition of collector adsorption. The depression mechanism is further elucidated through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), which demonstrates that it occurs via chemosorption between the thiol group in 1-TG and active iron sites on the chalcopyrite surface. These findings provide a potential efficient depressant for chalcopyrite–molybdenite flotation separation with low dosage, environmental friendliness, and human harmlessness.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/3/299chalcopyritemolybdeniteflotationdepressant1-thioglycerol
spellingShingle Feng Jiang
Shuai He
Wei Sun
Yuanjia Luo
Honghu Tang
Efficient and Green Flotation Separation of Molybdenite from Chalcopyrite Using 1-Thioglycerol as Depressant
Metals
chalcopyrite
molybdenite
flotation
depressant
1-thioglycerol
title Efficient and Green Flotation Separation of Molybdenite from Chalcopyrite Using 1-Thioglycerol as Depressant
title_full Efficient and Green Flotation Separation of Molybdenite from Chalcopyrite Using 1-Thioglycerol as Depressant
title_fullStr Efficient and Green Flotation Separation of Molybdenite from Chalcopyrite Using 1-Thioglycerol as Depressant
title_full_unstemmed Efficient and Green Flotation Separation of Molybdenite from Chalcopyrite Using 1-Thioglycerol as Depressant
title_short Efficient and Green Flotation Separation of Molybdenite from Chalcopyrite Using 1-Thioglycerol as Depressant
title_sort efficient and green flotation separation of molybdenite from chalcopyrite using 1 thioglycerol as depressant
topic chalcopyrite
molybdenite
flotation
depressant
1-thioglycerol
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4701/15/3/299
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