Use of a particulate bed electrode for the electrochemical investigation of metal and sulphide flotation

Abstract

An electrochemical cell has been constructed which utilizes a particulate bed electrode in order to allow the flotation properties of conducting particles to be correlated directly with electrode processes occurring at the solid-solution interface.     The flotation of gold, lead, and galena particles with ethylxanthate has been investigated. The general relationships between flotation characteristics and electrode reactions are found to be the same with small particles as those previously observed with solid electrodes.     For gold the amount of anodically produced dixanthogen which is needed for flotation is found to be of the order of a monolayer. Comparison of the behaviour of lead and galena gives an indication of the possible roles of dixanthogen and lead xanthate in the flotation of galena.