Next Article in Journal
Influence and Mechanism of 1-Dodecyl-3-methylimidazolium Bromide on the Flotation Behavior of Quartz and Feldspar in a Neutral System
Previous Article in Journal
Detrital Zircon Geochronology of the Permian Sedimentary Rocks from the Western Ordos Basin: Implications for Provenance Variations and Tectonic Evolution
Previous Article in Special Issue
Flotation Kinetics of Copper-Bearing Shale in the Presence of NaCl and α-Terpineol
 
 
Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
Journals
Minerals
Volume 15
Issue 12
10.3390/min15121234
minerals-logo
Submit to this Journal Review for this Journal Propose a Special Issue
► Article Menu

Article Menu

share Share announcement Help format_quote Cite
first_page
settings
Order Article Reprints
Font Type:
Arial Georgia Verdana
Font Size:
Aa Aa Aa
Line Spacing:
Column Width:
Background:
This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Evaluation of Pyrite Recovery via Bench-Scale Froth Flotation from a Sulfide Ore Deposit in Southwestern Spain

by
Amina Eljoudiani
1,*,
Moacir Medeiros Veras
1,2,
Carlos Hoffmann Sampaio
1,
Josep Oliva Moncunill
1 and
Jose Luis Cortina Pallas
3
1
Departament d’Enginyeria Minera, Industrial i TIC, Escola Politècnica Superior d’Enginyeria de Manresa, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, Av. Bases de Manresa 61-63, 08242 Manresa, Spain
2
Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia do Amapá, Macapá 68909-398, Brazil
3
Departament d’Enginyeria Química, Campus Diagonal Besòs, Edifici I, Eduard Maristany, 16, Sant Adrià de Besòs, 08930 Barcelona, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Minerals 2025, 15(12), 1234; https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121234 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 13 October 2025 / Revised: 17 November 2025 / Accepted: 19 November 2025 / Published: 23 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Kinetic Characterization and Its Applications in Mineral Processing)
Versions Notes

Abstract

In recent decades, there has been an upsurge in focus on the extraction of pyrite from sulfide ore deposits due to its vital role in the process of metal extraction and environmental management. This study explores the flotation behavior of pyrite in sulfide ores using mechanical-cell flotation. This study compared the performance of two commonly used flotation collectors, potassium butyl xanthate (KXT) and diethyl dithiophosphate (DTP), in the beneficiation of a sulfide ore from southwestern Spain. Statistical analysis performed using MiniTab 4.0 revealed that collector type, reagent dosage, and pulp pH were the principal factors affecting pyrite recovery. Under the tested conditions, KXT exhibited superior metallurgical performance and selectivity compared with DTP. The flotation kinetics demonstrate that the chemical was more efficacious throughout both the rougher and cleaner phases of the process. The findings robustly corroborate the notion that employing xanthate-based chemicals to enhance pyrite concentration facilitates metal extraction from the Sulfide Ore Deposit in southwestern Spain. The study sets out a basis for process growth, and it is proposed that further research be conducted under industrial water conditions to validate the findings.
Keywords: pyrite flotation; sulfide ore; potassium butyl-xanthate (KBX); diethyl dithiophosphate (DTP); zeta potential; metallurgical recovery; froth flotation kinetics; sulfide ores; bench-scale flotation; associated oxides (Co, Cu, Mn, Zn) pyrite flotation; sulfide ore; potassium butyl-xanthate (KBX); diethyl dithiophosphate (DTP); zeta potential; metallurgical recovery; froth flotation kinetics; sulfide ores; bench-scale flotation; associated oxides (Co, Cu, Mn, Zn)

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Eljoudiani, A.; Veras, M.M.; Sampaio, C.H.; Moncunill, J.O.; Cortina Pallas, J.L. Evaluation of Pyrite Recovery via Bench-Scale Froth Flotation from a Sulfide Ore Deposit in Southwestern Spain. Minerals 2025, 15, 1234. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121234

AMA Style

Eljoudiani A, Veras MM, Sampaio CH, Moncunill JO, Cortina Pallas JL. Evaluation of Pyrite Recovery via Bench-Scale Froth Flotation from a Sulfide Ore Deposit in Southwestern Spain. Minerals. 2025; 15(12):1234. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121234

Chicago/Turabian Style

Eljoudiani, Amina, Moacir Medeiros Veras, Carlos Hoffmann Sampaio, Josep Oliva Moncunill, and Jose Luis Cortina Pallas. 2025. "Evaluation of Pyrite Recovery via Bench-Scale Froth Flotation from a Sulfide Ore Deposit in Southwestern Spain" Minerals 15, no. 12: 1234. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121234

APA Style

Eljoudiani, A., Veras, M. M., Sampaio, C. H., Moncunill, J. O., & Cortina Pallas, J. L. (2025). Evaluation of Pyrite Recovery via Bench-Scale Froth Flotation from a Sulfide Ore Deposit in Southwestern Spain. Minerals, 15(12), 1234. https://doi.org/10.3390/min15121234

Note that from the first issue of 2016, this journal uses article numbers instead of page numbers. See further details here.

Article Metrics

Article metric data becomes available approximately 24 hours after publication online.
Back to TopTop