Precipitate Flotation of Complexed Cyanide

Precipitated cyanide, complexed with Fe(II) at a molar Fe/CN ratio of 0.550, can be floated readily from aqueous suspension with a cationic surfactant, ethylhexadecyldimethylammonium bromide. The effects of three distinct mixing times of significance in preparing the precipitate and contacting it with surfactant, of pH, of initial cyanide concentration, of initial surfactant concentration, and of ionic strength have been established experimentally. Mixing times and the initial cyanide concentration have little influence on the flotation, while increases in pH and ionic strength have a most pronounced influence, part of which can be overcome with increased surfactant concentrations. At pH 6.0, 95% of the complexed cyanide can be foam separated from distilled water suspensions 1.5 to 3.1 mM in total cyanide. About 0.04 mole surfactant/mole complexed cyanide is required; about 0.08 mole/mole is required to increase the flotation to 99% or to overcome ionic strength effects.