Oxidative Flotation Separation of Chalcopyrite and Pyrite Using K₂FeO₄ in Seawater

The oxidative flotation separation of chalcopyrite from pyrite in weak alkaline seawater solution was investigated using potassium ferrate (K2FeO4) as the oxidizing reagent. The optimal K2FeO4 concentration of 0.25 kg/t was found to strongly depress pyrite (from 88.05% to 7.92%) but insignificantly influence chalcopyrite (remaining at around 93%). K2FeO4 oxidized pyrite to form hydrophilic Fe2O3, Fe(OH)3, FeOOH, and Fe2(SO4)3 that covering on pyrite surface to prevent the adsorption of collector sodium butyl xanthate (SBX), thereby depressing pyrite flotation. Although a small amount of hydrophilic species was formed on chalcopyrite surface after the addition of K2FeO4, some hydrophobic substances such as S22-/Sn2-/S0 were also observed, resulting in an unaffected overall floatability. Further, density functional theory (DFT) calculation proved that the activity of Fe on chalcopyrite surface was much lower than that on pyrite. Therefore, this study provides a green way to separate chalcopyrite from pyrite effectively in a low-alkali seawater system, which is of significance to the separation of sulfide minerals in the fresh water-lack areas.</p

original data and description

data tool and discription, especially xps fitting process

original data and descriptions from Inhibition mechanism of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Fe³⁺ in fine cassiterite flotation using octanohydroxamic acid

The existence of metal ions should not be ignored in both hydrometallurgy and flotation. In this study, the effects of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Fe³⁺ on the flotation performance of cassiterite using octanohydroxamic acid (OHA) as the collector were investigated by micro-flotation tests, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, contact angle, zeta (<i>ζ</i>) potential measurements and atomic force microscopy (AFM) imaging. The results of the flotation and contact angle experiments showed that the addition of Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺ and Fe³⁺ significantly decreased both the recovery and contact angle of cassiterite with pH in the range from 6.0 to 12.0 in the presence of OHA collector. <i>ζ-</i>Potential measurements, solution chemistry analysis and FTIR measurements indicated that the flotation recovery of the cassiterite declined due to the CaOH⁺, MgOH⁺ and Fe(OH)₃ sites on the cassiterite surface. XPS results indicated that the chemisorption of OHA on the cassiterite surface and its adsorption combined with calcium ions’ effects finally changed the chemical properties of the cassiterite surface. The AFM images also revealed that new species Fe(OH)₃ of Fe³⁺ formed and adsorbed on the cassiterite surface at pH 9.0. The adsorption of Fe(OH)₃ reduced the adsorption of OHA on the cassiterite surface, thus the hydrophobicity of cassiterite was deteriorated

Pyrogenic carbon and its role in contaminant immobilization in soils

<p>Pyrogenic carbon (PyC), including soil native PyC and engineered PyC (biochars), is increasingly being recognized for its potential role as a low-cost immobilizer of contaminants in soils. Published reviews on the role of soil native PyC as a sorbent in soils have so far focused mainly on organic contaminants and paid little or no attention to inorganic contaminants. Further, a comprehensive review on the production of both natural PyC and engineered PyC (biochars), mechanisms involved, and factors influencing their role as soil contaminant immobilizer is so far not available. The objective of this review is thus to systematically summarize the sources, formation, and properties of PyC, including its quantification in soils, followed by their roles in the immobilization of both organic and inorganic contaminants in soils. Effectiveness of PyC on bioavailability, leaching, and degradation of soil contaminants was summarized. Notably, the mechanisms and factors (for the first time) influencing the immobilization processes for soil contaminants were also extensively elucidated. This review helps better understand and design PyC for soil contaminant immobilization.</p

MOESM1 of Cultivation of algal biofilm using different lignocellulosic materials as carriers

Additional file 1: Table S1. Particle size, bulk density, liquid holding capacity and mass loss rate ( $$\alpha$$ α ) of the tested lignocellulosic materials. Table S2. Settings of the experiments performed inside the flat plate algal biofilm photo-bioreactor with material species, dosage, culture time and number of the involved channel. Figure S1. Biofilm using sugarcane bagasse as carrier after 16 days’ cultivation. Figure S2. Biofilm with filamentous microorganisms using pine sawdust as carrier after 16 days’ cultivation. Red arrow points to the visible filamentous microorganisms. Figure S3. ESEM images of the visible filamentous microorganisms described in Figure S2