Synergistic Mechanism of Combined Inhibitors on the Selective Flotation of Arsenopyrite and Pyrite

[Image: see text] The selective action mechanism of sodium butyl xanthate (BX), ammonium salt (NH(4)(+)), and sodium m-nitrobenzoate (m-NBO) on pyrite and arsenopyrite was examined by experiments and quantum chemistry. The experiments show that under alkaline conditions, ammonium salt (NH(4)(+)) and m-NBO can have a strong inhibitory effect on arsenopyrite. At pH 11, the recovery rate of arsenopyrite reduces to 16%. The presence of ammonium salt (NH(4)(+)) and m-NBO reduces the adsorption energy of BX on arsenopyrite to ΔE = −23.23 kJ/mol, which is far less than the adsorption energy on the surface of pyrite, ΔE = −110.13 kJ/mol. The results are helpful to understand the synergistic mechanism of the agent on the surface of arsenopyrite and pyrite, thus providing a reference for the selective separation of arsenopyrite.