Abstract
A novel collector of 1-(2-hydroxyphenyl) dec-2-en-1-one oxime (HPDO) was synthesized from 2-hydroxy acetophenone and octanal, and its flotation and adsorption behavior for malachite were studied by flotation tests and x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The flotation results of a single mineral show HPDO is a special collector for malachite. Compared with benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), isobutyl xanthate (SIBX), and dodecylamine (DA), HPDO exhibits excellent flotation performance for malachite and satisfied selectivity against quartz and calcite over a wide pH range. The HPDO with a concentration of 200 mg/L can float 94% malachite at pH 8, while only recovering 7.8% quartz and 28% calcite. XPS data give clear evidence for the formation of a Cu-oxime complex on malachite surfaces after HPDO adsorption.