Flotation and adsorption investigations of the systemn-dodecanoic acid/mercury at different pH values

The systemn-dodecanoic acid/mercury in 0,1 N KCl solutions has been investigated within pH range 4,0–10,5 in order to characterize the adsorption of surfactant and to determine its influence on the flotation of mercury. Flotation tests have been carried out in a model mercury flotation apparatus developed by Pomianowski and Para. Some characteristic parameters of adsorption (attraction constant of Frumkin isotherm, adsorption coefficient at maximum adsorption potential, free standard adsorption enthalpy and area per molecule) have been determined by a. c. polarographic capacity-potential and capacity-time curves. Flotation recovery as well as attraction constant, adsorption coefficient and surface excess reach maximum at pH5,1. It is explained by the assumption of an ion-molecule associate formation.Publ.-No. 810 from Research Institute of Mineral Processing, Academy of Sciences of the German Democratic Republic, Freiberg