Abstract
Fluorite is an important industrial mineral composed of calcium and fluorine (CaF2). This mineral is widely distributed through different deposits. However, in most cases, fluorite is tightly associated with gangue, such as calcite and quartz. In this paper, different depressants are tested in the flotation of fluorite in two different laboratory configurations—cell and column. Quebracho tree (QT) was tested as the main depressant in combination with white dextrin (WD), potato starch (PT), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP). The optimum pulp pH of the flotation of fluorite was determined as approximately 9.5–10. The best results are obtained using a combination of quebracho and white dextrin as depressants, reaching 74% of fluorite grade for modified column flotation and 70.5% for cell flotation. Additionally, the metallurgical recovery obtained higher values when the flotation was carried out in the modified column and using the same combination of depressant agents—75% for modified column flotation and 60% for flotation cell.
Highlights
Fluorite (CaF2 ) has been classified as a critical non-metal mineral by the European Union for its economic importance and high supply risk [1]
By studying the effect of each depressant mixture separately, it can be seen the best results were obtained for the Quebracho tree (QT) + white dextrin (WD) mixture, reaching 74% of fluorite grade for modified that the best results were obtained for the QT + WD mixture, reaching 74% of fluorite grade for column flotation and 70.5% for conventional cell flotation, both at pH of 9.5
A set of quartz and carbonate depressants were studied in fluorite flotation
Summary
Fluorite (CaF2 ) has been classified as a critical non-metal mineral by the European Union for its economic importance and high supply risk [1]. Froth flotation is a selective process that is used to carry out specific separations of complex minerals, based on the different surface properties of each of them. Comparing both configurations under different operational parameters will allow the choosing of the most suitable equipment for fluorite flotation It is well-known that mechanical flotation machines provide stronger particle–bubble collision than flotation columns, the system used for the injection of air can influence bubbles generation and their distribution size, and separation of particles by flotation. The flotation of fluorite, calcite, and quartz and their separation were, for the first time, studied in the presence of a mixture of different depressants. Two pieces of laboratory equipment were used—a mechanical cell and a pneumatic cell based on the operation of a column and which has been designed from a modified Hallimond tube
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