The effect of diethylenetriamine on the formation of Cu2+, Ni2+, and Fe3+ amyl xanthate ion complexes.

The results are presented of an ultra-violet spectroscopy study of the effect of diethylenetriamine (DETA) on the formation of Cu2+ -, Ni2+ - and Fe3+ -amyl xanthate ion (AX-) complexes. The study was carried out in connection with the flotation of Cu, Ni and Fe ores at INCO. DETA was shown to dissolve M(OH)2 and to suppress the formation of M(AX)2 depending on the M2+/AX- ratio. DETA dissolves Cu(OH)2 instantaneously and quantitatively whereas the dissolution of Ni(OH)2 is very slow. While the formation of Ni(AX)2 is dependent on the M2+/AX-/DETA ratio, the formation of Cu(AX)2 was not affected significantly by the solution composition. The M(AX)2 self-reduction products, CuAX and NiAX, isolated from solutions containing M2+, AX- and DETA, were characterised using atomic absorption and FT-IR spectroscopy. The behaviour of Fe3+ is different from that of Cu2+ and Ni2+ with AX- and/or DETA. Even in the presence of a large excess of AX- and/or DETA, Fe3+ exists almost exclusively as Fe(OH)3 at a pH of 9.3. DETA decreases the amount of Fe3+AX- complex in solution.
The results are presented of an ultra-violet spectroscopy study of the effect of diethylenetriamine (DETA) on the formation of Cu2+ -, Ni2+ - and Fe3+ -amyl xanthate ion (AX-) complexes. The study was carried out in connection with the flotation of Cu, Ni and Fe ores at INCO. DETA was shown to dissolve M(OH)2 and to suppress the formation of M(AX)2 depending on the M2+/AX- ratio. DETA dissolves Cu(OH)2 instantaneously and quantitatively whereas the dissolution of Ni(OH)2 is very slow. While the formation of Ni(AX)2 is dependent on the M2+/AX-/DETA ratio, the formation of Cu(AX)2 was not affected significantly by the solution composition. The M(AX)2 self-reduction products, CuAX and NiAX, isolated from solutions containing M2+, AX- and DETA, were characterised using atomic absorption and FT-IR spectroscopy. The behaviour of Fe3+ is different from that of Cu2+ and Ni2+ with AX- and/or DETA. Even in the presence of a large excess of AX- and/or DETA, Fe3+ exists almost exclusively as Fe(OH)3 at a pH of 9.3. DETA decreases the amount of Fe3+AX- complex in solution.