Flotation is an interfacial chemical reaction in essence. The selective adsorption of flotation reagents on mineral surfaces leads to the transition of hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity of mineral particles, and then to regulate the floatability differences between various minerals. 5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol (ATT) is a heterocyclic ring compound, which can chelate copper ions easily and usually used as a copper corrosion inhibitor. Based on those good chelating properties with copper ions, this paper attempted to apply ATT as a chalcopyrite depressant in the flotation separation of Cu/Mo ores. The adsorption mechanism of ATT on chalcopyrite surface was explored by means of UV–vis, FTIR, contact angle and XPS analysis, and it revealed the possibility of ATT using as a selective chalcopyrite depressant in the flotation separation of Cu/Mo ores by micro-flotation tests. Finally, the adsorption morphology of ATT depressant on chalcopyrite surface was unveiled by DFT method from a microscopic level. Through these FTIR and XPS analysis, combined with DFT simulation results, it was inferred that ATT was mainly chemically adsorbed on chalcopyrite surface by SCu and NCu bonds. These studies confirmed that ATT was very likely to be an excellent chalcopyrite depressant in Cu/Mo flotation separation.

浮选本质上是一种界面化学反应。浮选剂在矿物表面的选择性吸附导致矿物颗粒亲水性/疏水性的转变，进而调节各种矿物之间的可浮性差异。5-amino-1,3,4-thiadiazole-2-thiol (ATT)是一种杂环化合物，易螯合铜离子，常用作铜缓蚀剂。基于ATT与铜离子良好的螯合性能，本文尝试将ATT作为黄铜矿抑制剂应用于Cu/Mo矿石的浮选分离。通过紫外-可见光、红外光谱、接触角和XPS分析等手段探讨了ATT在黄铜矿表面的吸附机理，并通过微浮选试验揭示了ATT作为选择性黄铜矿抑制剂用于Cu/Mo矿浮选分离的可能性。最后，通过DFT方法从微观层面揭示了ATT抑制剂在黄铜矿表面的吸附形态。通过这些 FTIR 和 XPS 分析，结合 DFT 模拟结果，推断 ATT 主要通过 S 化学吸附在黄铜矿表面Cu 和N Cu 键。这些研究证实，ATT 很可能是 Cu/Mo 浮选分离中优良的黄铜矿抑制剂。