Abstract
The depressing properties of sodium polyacrylate (PA-Na) for scheelite and fluorite were studied by micro-flotation tests, infrared spectroscopy (IR), zeta potentials, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and density functional theory (DFT). The flotation results reveal that the selective depression effect of PA-Na is better than that of sodium silicate, and PA-Na can depress fluorite more effectively than scheelite. The flotation recovery of scheelite and fluorite keeps at about 75% and 10%, respectively, at the pulp pH 9.3~9.6 and PA-Na concentration from 30 to 50 mg/L. IR spectra results suggest that PA-Na has a chemical effect on the surface of scheelite and fluorite. The zeta potential of fluorite becomes more negative than that of scheelite after PA-Na addition. XPS analysis deduces the occurrence of chemisorption between PA-Na and mineral surfaces, and the chemisorption of PA-Na on fluorite is stronger than on scheelite. DFT demonstrates that the absolute value of the adsorption energy in the presence of PA-Na is larger on the fluorite {111} surface than on the scheelite {111} surface. Thus, fluorite is more readily depressed than scheelite, which remarkably matches the micro-flotation test results.
Highlights
Scheelite and fluorite are important industrial minerals used as raw materials to produce spaceflight items, catalysts, ceramics, optical glass, and fine chemicals [1]
The reason may be that Ca2+ ions react with PA-Na to form calcium polyacrylate, which can cover the surface of the mineral, so that the concentration of calcium atoms on the mineral surface increases [37]
PA-Na was used as an inhibitor for the selective depression of scheelite and fluorite
Summary
Scheelite and fluorite are important industrial minerals used as raw materials to produce spaceflight items, catalysts, ceramics, optical glass, and fine chemicals [1]. Scheelite and fluorite have similar surface properties and exhibit high surface reactivity with reagents [5,6]; separating the two minerals is almost impossible without inhibitor addition. Known to depress calcareous gangue by forming a water-soluble complex with the calcium ions (Ca ) of the mineral surface [17]. Gangue by forming a water-soluble complex with the calcium ions (Ca2+ ) of the mineral surface [17]. We investigated the flotation of scheelite and fluorite in the absence and presence of of PA-Na. The interaction between PA-NA and the minerals was analyzed by infrared spectroscopy. Zeta potential measurements were performed to understand the effects of PA-Na on the surface charges charges of scheelite and fluorite. The depressing mechanism of PA-Na adsorption on mineral surfaces
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