ENHANCED RECOVERY OF COPPER AND MOLYBDENUM FROM CONCENTRATOR TAILINGS USING DITHIOPYRYLMETHANE (DTM) AS A NOVEL SELECTIVE COLLECTOR

The reprocessing of concentrator tailings is a significant challenge in advancing a circular economy within the mining sector. Conventional flotation collectors frequently demonstrate low selectivity and efficiency when processing complex, low-grade ores. This study evaluates the efficacy of a novel heterocyclic reagent, dithiopyrylmethane (DTM), as a selective collector for enhancing the recovery of copper (Cu) and molybdenum (Mo) from industrial sulfide tailings. Laboratory-scale scavenger flotation tests were performed on industrial tailings containing 0.41% Cu and 0.0045% Mo. Under a conventional reagent regime, Cu and Mo recoveries were only 5.76% and 7.69%, respectively. In contrast, a combined collector system of DTM (40 g/t) and potassium butyl xanthate (PBX, 150 g/t) increased Cu recovery to 13.64% and Mo recovery to 14.40%. Notably, this optimized regime reduced the Cu content in the final tailings by 50%, from 0.06% to 0.03%. Scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDX) confirmed the selective adsorption of DTM onto valuable mineral surfaces. Additionally, monomineral flotation tests demonstrated that DTM enhances molybdenite flotability while simultaneously depressing pyrite, which elucidates its high selectivity. These results establish DTM as a highly effective collector, presenting a promising approach for the sustainable and economically viable reprocessing of sulfide tailings.