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U.S. Department of Energy
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Studies of incipient oxidation of pyrite for improved rejection. Technical progress report for the fourth quarter, July 1, 1993--September 30, 1993

Technical Report ·
OSTI ID:10135435
One major objective of this work is to determine the Eh-pH conditions under which pyrite is stable and then to determine the mechanism of the initial stages of pyrite oxidation. It is known that moderate oxidation of pyrite produces a hydrophobic surface product. This hydrophobic product makes it extremely difficult to depress pyrite in coal flotation circuits. The eventual objective of this work is to prevent pyrite oxidation in order to better depress pyrite in coal flotation circuits. In this work clean, unoxidized pyrite surfaces are being produced by fracturing pyrite electrodes in an electrochemical cell. It has been shown that by holding the potential at different values during fracture and measuring the current passed at fracture, pyrite oxidation or reduction can be precisely controlled, or prevented. In the previous quarterly report, pyrite oxidation in pH 9.2 buffer solution was discussed. During this report period, the initial stages of pyrite oxidation in pH 4.6 buffer solution were studied, and the results compared with those in pH 9.2 solution. The effect of anodic and cathodic potential limits on the subsequent photocurrent and voltammetry behavior of freshly-fractured pyrite electrodes was also determined.
Research Organization:
Virginia Polytechnic Inst. and State Univ., Blacksburg, VA (United States). Dept. of Mining and Minerals Engineering
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
DOE Contract Number:
FG22-92PC92547
OSTI ID:
10135435
Report Number(s):
DOE/PC/92547--4; ON: DE94008728
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English