The utilization of BHA and SBX collector mixture for the flotation of moderately oxidized pyrrhotite

The benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) and sodium butyl xanthate (SBX) mixture was used as a collector for the flotation of moderately oxidized pyrrhotite (MOP) in this work. Microflotation results revealed that the flotation recovery of MOP was not very high with the addition of individual SBX or BHA collector, but significantly improved using a mixed collector of SBA/BHA, the maximum flotation recovery of could reach 88.55%. Zeta potential measurement revealed that the surface charges of MOP were negatively moved after the addition of mixed SBX/BHA compared to adding SBX or BHA alone, revealing a much stronger interaction between the collector mixture and MOP surface, leading to the improvement of MOP floatability. The FTIR spectra analysis revealed that the synergistic effect of SBX/BHA was attributed to the interaction between BHA and MOP, which could reduce the hydrophilic Fe(OH) 3 on the pyrrhotite surface, allowing more adsorption of SBX onto the generated fresh unoxidized surfaces.