Which of the following is useed as a depressent in forth floatation process ?

Options

A. Copper sulphate
B. Xanthate
C. Potessium cyanide
D. Pine oil

Answer

c

Explanation

Sometimes depressants are used to provent certain type of particles from forming the froth with the soapy air bubbles.For exaple ,sodium potassium cyanide can be userd as a depressant in the seperation of zine sulphde ore `(ZnS)` and lead sulphied ore `(PbS)` . sodium cuyanide acts as a deperessant for `ZnS` but does not prevent `PbS` from forming the froth this happens because `NaCN or KCN` forms a layer of zine coples.`Na_(2)[Zn(CN)_(4)]` On the surface of `ZnS` and there by prevents it from the formation of froth .The two ores can thus bseparted
Some times ,it is possible to saprate two sulphide ores by adjuusting proportion of oil to watwr .
Pine oil is used as a foaming or flotation agent agent in froth flotation process .A molecule of this substance has a polar and , which is attrachted to the minetral , and a water-repalent (hydrophobic) end .mineral particles becomes coated with molecules of the flotation agent with their hydrophobic and poitting outward .The coated meneral particles more strogly attracted to air bubbles then to the water solution and so float to the surface ,where they are prapped by the forth .The froth is removed at the top of the flotation vesseal as a collactor while copper suplhate is used as activator in froth flotation process .