Abstract: To address the issue of insufficient collecting power and significant gold loss in tailings when sulfhydryl collectors
are used alone in the flotation of sulfide vein gold ore,this study introduced sodium oleate,characterized by its long hydrophobic
chain and strong affinity for metal ions,into a binary collector system composed of butyl xanthate and ammonium dibutyl
dithiophosphate. A novel ternary collector system (butyl xanthate-ammonium dibutyl dithiophosphate-sodium oleate) was developed
to leverage the synergistic effects among collectors,aiming to enhance the efficient flotation recovery of gold from lowgrade
sulfide vein gold ore. Flotation tests on actual ore,combined with surface analysis techniques such as contact angle measurement,
Zeta potential analysis,and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS),were conducted to systematically evaluate the
separation performance of the ternary collector system and to elucidate its selective adsorption mechanism on the surface of pyrite
(the gold-bearing mineral). The flotation results demonstrated that,compared to single butyl xanthate and the binary collector,
the ternary collector with a mass ratio of 3∶1∶1 significantly improved gold recovery. Under optimal conditions (pH 7~
8,MIBC as frother,and a closed-circuit flowsheet comprising one roughing,two cleaning,and two scavenging stages),a gold
concentrate with a grade of 19. 20 g/ t and a recovery of 89. 46% was achieved,realizing efficient gold recovery from the lowgrade
sulfide vein gold ore. Surface analysis indicated that both the binary and ternary collectors could selectively adsorb onto
the pyrite surface,enhancing its hydrophobicity and thereby enlarging the floatability difference between the gold-bearing mineral
and gangue minerals (quartz). Notably,the ternary collector exhibited stronger selective adsorption on pyrite due to the
chelating action and synergistic adsorption effect of sodium oleate,so as to realize the efficient recovery of gold in low grade sulfide
vein gold mine.