Abstract: Aiming at the separation problem of chalcopyrite and sphalerite,explore the influence of ultrasonic treatment
on the flotation separation of copper and zinc under the action of combined inhibitors. And the influence of ultrasonic pretreatment
power and time on the floatability and flotation separation of chalcopyrite and sphalerite under the condition of combined
inhibitors was emphatically studied. The mechanism of ultrasonic pretreatment promoting flotation separation of chalcopyrite and
sphalerite was discussed by Zeta potential,FTIR and XPS detection. The results show that the adverse effect of combination inhibitors
on chalcopyrite flotation is improved under suitable ultrasonic pretreatment conditions,but the inhibition effect of combination
inhibitors on sphalerite is not changed,so the separation selectivity of chalcopyrite and sphalerite is improved. The
mechanism study showed that ultrasonic pretreatment could increase the difference of Zeta potential on chalcopyrite surface and
selectively desorbed the combined inhibitors adsorbed on the surface of chalcopyrite surface,exposing more Cu and S active
sites on the surface of chalcopyrite surface,while the desorption effect of the combined inhibitors on the surface of sphalerite
was weak,thus improving the separation selectivity of chalcopyrite and sphalerite

Key words: combined inhibitor,ultrasonic pretreatment,chalcopyrite,sphalerite