Ion Flotation of Copper Using Ethylhexadecyldimethyl-ammonium Bromide

Studies have been undertaken to determine the effect of variables such as pH, flow rate, collector: copper ratio, and chemical interferences in order to develop optimum conditions to remove copper ions from aqueous solutions by ion flotation using ethylhexadecyldimethylammonium bromide (EHDABr). Copper can be removed quantitatively from 6 X 10−5 M solutions containing tartrate using EHDABr over a pH range of 6 to 11. A number of foreign metallic ions supress the flotation of copper. No foreign ion studied supressed the flotation 10%.