Flotation performance and adsorption mechanism of novel 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hex-2-en-1-one oxime flotation collector to malachite

A novel collector 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)hex-2-en-1-one oxime (HPHO) was synthesized from 2-hydroxy acetophenone and butyraldehyde. Its flotation performance and adsorption mechanism to malachite were investigated by flotation test, zeta potential, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis techniques. Compared with benzohydroxamic acid (BA), 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)ethan-1-one oxime (HPEO) and sodium isobutyl xanthate (SIBX), HPHO exhibited excellent collecting power to malachite without additional reagents, such as Na2S regulator and methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) frother. Results of zeta potential indicated that HPHO was coated on malachite surfaces through a chemisorption process. FTIR and XPS data gave clear evidence for the formation of Cu-oxime complex on malachite surfaces after HPHO adsorption through the linkage between C=C, -OH, N-OH group and Cu species.