The relationship between sulfur and iron in pyrite is as follows:

Regarding the relationship between sulfur and iron in pyrite, pyrite with a high S/Fe ratio is an n-type semiconductor, its thermoelectromotive force is negative, and it has poor floatability and is easily inhibited by Na2S and Ca2 plasma. The two S/Fe ratios close to the theoretical value are both p-type and n-type semiconductors, and have good floatability in acidic media but poor floatability in alkaline media. Pyrite with a low S/Fe ratio is a p-type semiconductor with large thermoelectromotive force and good floatability in alkaline media. It is difficult to be inhibited by Na2S, Ca2, etc., but it has poor floatability in acidic media.

Short-chain xanthate is a traditional collector of pyrite, and the hydrophobic product is double xanthate. Xanthate makes pyrite easy to float on acidic media with a pH of less than 6, but it suggests that the floatability becomes worse or easier to float between pH 6 and 7. Studies have shown that this phenomenon is related to the way the mineral samples are processed. Under alkaline conditions, the suspension of pyrite decreases as the pH increases.

The activator of pyrite generally uses sulfuric acid, and it can also be activated with Na2CO3 and CO2. The mechanism of action is to lower the pH of the solution, make the Ca2, Fe2, and Fe3 plasma on the surface of the pyrite become complexes, separate the insoluble salt from the surface of the pyrite and put it into the solution to restore the fresh surface of the pyrite.

Due to the presence of the activator, the surface of the pyrite becomes difficult to oxidize, and the inhibited pyrite floats after being activated. When the surface oxidation of pyrite is deep, it can be activated by Cu2. The mechanism is that Cu2 can replace Fe2 in the pyrite lattice to form a copper-containing sulfide film on the surface to enhance the adsorption of xanthate. However, when pyrite is adsorbed or deeply inhibited by lime, it needs to be activated by CuSO4 in an acid medium or after pickling. Lime is often used to increase the pH of the slurry and inhibit iron sulfide minerals.

The above is an introduction to the relationship between sulfur and iron in pyrite, thanks for reading.