TITLE:
XPS & FTIR Study of Adsorption Characteristics Using Cationic and Anionic Collectors on Smithsonite
AUTHORS:
Hosseini S. Hamid, Forssberg Eric
KEYWORDS:
Smithsonite; Anionic collector; Cationic collector; FTIR; XPS
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Minerals and Materials Characterization and Engineering,
Vol.5 No.1,
June
12,
2006
ABSTRACT: The adsorption of cationic and anionic collectors on the surface of smithsonite was
studied using diffuse reflectance FTIR (DRIFT) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
(XPS or ESCA) techniques.
The FT-IR spectra studies of smithsonite conditioned using DDA (dodecylamine)
show the presence of RNH2on the surface of smithsonite and accordingly the adsorption
of DDA. XPS results show the presence of a ZnS layer on the surface after sulphidising in
amine adsorption. The appearance of the N (1s) signal of the amine groups and S (2p)
signal of ZnS which increased in the intensity of the signal of C (1s) peak by adsorption
of DDA on smithsonite. The presence of COO- on the surface of smithsonite after oleic
acid treatment confirmed the adsorption of OA (oleic acid) onto the surface. The most
adsorption occurs at around pH 10, when RCOO- is predominant in solution and has
ample opportunities for interaction with the mineral surface.
The appearance of CS2 on the surface of smithsonite exposes the adsorption of KAX
(potassium amyl xanthate) onto surface. XPS results confirm the presence of ZnS layer on
the surface after sulphidising in amine adsorption and also the transferring the surface to
CuS in KAX adsorption. It is suggested that copper cations exchange with those of zinc
during copper activation of smithsonite such as activation of sphalerite.