LAUSR

Abstract The adsorption mechanism of thionocarbamates on mineral surfaces has been extensively studied using pure mineral samples. However, ore bodies commonly contain complicated mineral compositions. In this study, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy spectroscopy (EDXS), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and total organic carbon content (TOC) were used to study the ability of O-isobutyl-N-ethyl thionocarbamates (IBET) to collect copper-bearing minerals in porphyry copper, and the adsorption mechanism of chalcocite and chalcopyrite. In flotation tests, after using IBET, the Cu grade in the concentrate was 23.15%, and the recovery was 89.57%, which was better than SNBX. IBET has the best flotation at pH = 10 and a dosage of 34 g/t. SEM/EDXS analysis revealed that the main copper-bearing minerals obtained after IBET application were chalcocite (10.845%), chalcopyrite (8.1095%), bornite (4.3199%), covellite (1.0067%), and tetrahedrite (0.0802%). Chalcocite (45.11%) and chalcopyrite (29.6%) have a high amount of copper in the concentrate. XPS analysis shows that IBET is primarily adsorbed by sulfur atoms combined with monovalent copper ions (Cu−) or divalent copper ions (Cu2+) on the surface of the chalcocite and chalcopyrite. TOC indicates that the adsorption of IBET on the surface of the chalcocite (93.34%) is higher than that of chalcopyrite (80.45%).