Selective flotation of enargite from chalcopyrite by electrochemical control

Voltammetric studies, contact angle measurements, collector and collectorless microflotation tests were carried out in this study to investigate the oxidation properties and flotation characteristics of enargite as well as chalcopyrite. Selective flotation of enargite from chalcopyrite under varied pulp potentials was conducted to investigate the feasibility of enargite removal from a chalcopyrite concentrate. st results indicate that chalcopyrite began to oxidize quickly at a much lower potential than enargite. Enargite could be floated well at a potential higher than +0.2 V vs. SCE while chalcopyrite was completely depressed at a potential higher than +0.2 V vs. SCE. Selective flotation revealed that enargite can be successfully removed from chalcopyrite through controlling the pulp potential higher than +0.2 V and lower than +0.55 V vs. SCE.