Date of Award

Spring 2016

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Metallurgical Engineering

Committee Chair

Courtney Young

First Advisor

William Gleason

Second Advisor

Jerome Downey

Third Advisor

Rodney James

Abstract

The electrochemical reactions of copper and enargite (Cu3AsS4) were studied in the absence and presence of xanthate by cyclic voltammetry (C.V.) using electrodes fashioned from pure copper wire obtained from the Metallurgical and Materials Engineering Department, and an enargite mineral sample obtained from the Orphan Girl mine in Butte, MT. Voltammograms were produced in buffer solutions of pH values ranging from 7-12. Electrochemical reactions were discerned by comparing EH-pH diagrams calculated from thermodynamics using StabCal, a computer program developed by Dr. Huang at Montana Tech. The chemisorption of xanthate on the surface of copper was observed but not on enargite. On the other hand, surface precipitation of copper xanthate was observed on both surfaces.

Comments

A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of

Master of Science in Metallurgical/Mineral Processing Engineering

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