The use of a factorial experimental design to study collector properties of N-allyl-O-alkyl thionocarbamate collector in the flotation of a copper ore

A three-factor, three-level, face centered cubic (FCC) experimental design was used to study the effect of important chemical variables—collector chain length, collector concentration and frother type—on the collector properties of the recently developed N-allyl-O-alkyl thionocarbamates (ATC) in copper flotation from a porphyry ore. The objectives of this study were to exploit the advantages of using experimental designs to evaluate multivariable effects and interactions, and to develop fundamental applications knowledge that is currently lacking for the ATC collectors. fects of these process variables on copper recovery, copper concentrate grade, iron recovery, and particle size of the flotation concentrate were determined and the best process conditions were identified. The flotation efficiency of the ATC was compared with that of two better-known collectors, the O-alkyl-N-ethoxycarbonyl thionocarbamate (ECTC) and the N-alkyl-N-ethoxycarbonyl thiourea (ECTU).