Jianhua Chen – författare

Electronic Structure and Surfaces of Sulfide Minerals: Density Functional Theory and Applications examines the mineral structure and electronic properties of minerals and their relationship to mineral floatability by density functional theory (DFT). This pragmatic guide explores the role of minerals in flotation by focusing on the mineral surface structure, electronic properties, and the adsorption of flotation agents through the study of the microscopic mechanism of reagents from the structure and properties of minerals. The flotation mechanism is explained from the point-of-view of solid physics, which is of great significance for both theoretical research and practical applications.

The study of the structure and properties of the minerals can reveal the essential nature of mineral flotation, hence why minerals have floatability, the mechanism of response of different minerals to different chemicals, and the origin of the selectivity of flotation agents.

The advent of flotation, with selective interaction of reagents with minerals at its core, has greatly advanced the development of modern mining. Ever since, there has been continuous researched into the mechanism of mineral-reagent interactions, in an effort to design and develop more effective reagents. A unique perspective from coordination is presented to illustrate the principles of reagent molecules interacting with metal ions on mineral surface. For the first time, the influence is unveiled of mineral crystal structures and surrounding atoms on metal ion properties and further on mineral-reagent interactions. The introduction of classical theories for modern chemistry, including orbital structure, electron spin and orbital symmetry matching, into flotation is realized. Researchers, engineers and graduate students among others in the field of mineral processing may gain new insight into flotation and the development of novel reagents.