Highly selective flotation separation of chalcopyrite and pyrite by a novel dithiocarbamate collector with morpholine group

•Newly-synthesized MDPE was first used to separate chalcopyrite from pyrite.•MDPE exhibited surpassing flotation selectivity versus pyrite at low alkalinity.•MDPE possessed a stronger adsorption affinity for chalcopyrite than pyrite.•MDPE chemisorbed on chalcopyrite surface through the C-S-Cu structure.