Abstract
The novelty of this study lies in the first comparative characterisation of five carbonaceous materials: three monophase carbons (wood charcoal, carbon, graphite) and two ore-derived CM samples from polymetallic sulphide and oxidised lithium ores. The methodology included IR spectroscopy, XPS, acid–base adsorption centres identified by colour indicators, chemical composition analysis, and kinetic flotation tests. Bulk and surface compositions differed significantly: although the ash content of ore-derived CM reached 84.4%, XPS revealed carbon-enriched surfaces with thin films of about 1–2 nm. IR spectra confirmed multiphase structures with carbonate, silica, and aluminosilicate bands, and showed an identical composition of CM from different industrial ore types. Flotation kinetics confirmed high floatability (recoveries 80%–99%, k up to 1.95 min−1). Even with sodium lignosulphonate at 500 mg/L, recovery only decreased from 83.02% to 52.54%, showing the limited efficiency of depressants. These results provide a basis for the preliminary removal of CM prior to rough (bulk) flotation in the processing of different ore types, improving concentrate quality, reducing reagent consumption, and lowering metallurgical losses.