At the present time, flotation is the primary
method for copper minerals separation from copper
ores. The main copper ores that is extracted in the
world is sulphide ore. The Sulphide minerals are
floated readily by using sulphydryl collectors. In the
case of using Xanthates , which are among the
sulphydryl collectors, used more in the flotation of
sulphide minerals of copper, the
flotation of copper minerals is due to:
(a) multilayers of cuprous xanthate and absorption
on the surface of mineral, (b) electrostatic
adsorption of dixanthogen.
After one stage of sulphidization, the copper
carbonates could be floated like the sulphide
minerals. In addition, these minerals could be
floated by the fatty acids.
)