Reaction between a mercury surface and some flotation reagents: and electochemical study. I. Polarization curves

Abstract

The reactions between a mercury surface and certain flotation reagents were studied with the aid of polarization curves. It is found that the reactions occur by electrochemical mechanisms in which oxygen plays an important part. Cyanide ion inhibits the mercury-xanthate reaction by fixing the mercury ion concentration in equilibrium with the mercury surface. Sodium sulphite inhibits the mercury-xanthate reaction by removing oxygen from solution. Xanthate ion rather than xanthic acid is responsible for the formation of a mercury-xanthate film on the mercury surface.