Effect of aluminum ion on rutile flotation

Abstract

Al (III) ions are one of the primary interfering ions that make separating rutile and ferroaluminum garnet difficult. The effect of Al (III) ions on the flotation of rutile with benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) as collector was studied by micro-flotation test, solution chemistry calculation, Zeta potential measurement, adsorption capacity measurement and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The micro-flotation results show that the addition order of Al (III) ions and benzohydroxamic acid significantly affected rutile recovery. When Al (III) ions and BHA are added to the pulp successively, the rutile recovery can be significantly reduced by the addition of Al (III) ions in the pH range of 4 to 8. The results of solution chemical calculation showed that Al (III) ions tend to form hydroxyl complexes in the pH range of 4 to 8. The adsorption capacity test and XPS analysis showed that Al (III) ions and hydroxyl complex[Al(OH)2+, Al(OH)2+, Al(OH)3, Al2(OH)24+, Al3(OH)45+] could compete with benzohydroxamic acid for the adsorption site of rutile surface.