The selective action
mechanism of sodium butyl xanthate (BX), ammonium
salt (NH4
+), and sodium m-nitrobenzoate (m-NBO) on pyrite
and arsenopyrite was examined by experiments and quantum chemistry.
The experiments show that under alkaline conditions, ammonium salt
(NH4
+) and
m-NBO can have a strong inhibitory effect on arsenopyrite. At pH 11,
the recovery rate of arsenopyrite reduces to 16%. The presence of
ammonium salt (NH4
+) and m-NBO reduces the adsorption energy of BX on arsenopyrite
to ΔE = −23.23 kJ/mol, which is far
less than the adsorption energy on the surface of pyrite, ΔE = −110.13 kJ/mol. The results are helpful to understand
the synergistic mechanism of the agent on the surface of arsenopyrite
and pyrite, thus providing a reference for the selective separation
of arsenopyrite.