In general, the flotation performance of these composites was very good, with high silver recoveries achieved using Potassium
Amyl Xanthate (PAX) as the primary mineral collector.
Thus, less powerful but more selective flotation collector such as potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) was used for sphalerite flotation.
potassium ethyl xanthate (PEX), potassium isopropyl xanthate (PIPX), potassium butyl xanthate (PBX) and potassium amyl xanthate (PAX) were tested for the flotation of galena and sphalerite in the preliminary trials.
Z-14, sodium isobutyl xanthate, is an energetic collector useful in scavenger circuits, while Z-6, potassium
amyl xanthate, is the most powerful and least selective collector.
Figure 4 shows, for an Arizona chalcopyrite ore, a fairly typical set of comparable Cu recovery, rougher grade, and pyrite content data produced by MRI S-701, MRI C-211, MRI F-100, and potassium
amyl xanthate. The enhanced pyrite rejection and lower pH required of the F, S, and C collectors are really obvious and are large in magnitude.
The reagent suite is standard potassium amyl xanthate (200 g/t) collector and methyl isobutyl carbonyl (MIBC) frother (80 g/t).
distributor overflow reports to the bank at a density of 1.23 t/|m.sup.3~ and is treated with a standard reagent suite of potassium amyl xanthate and MIBC.