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

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Summary

Introduction

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

Experimental
The ground
Micro–Flotation Tests tests were
The mineral suspension was prepared by adding
IR Study
Zeta Potential Measurements
XPS Analysis
Computational Details
Single-Mineral Flotation
IR Spectra Measurements
XPS Results
Adsorption Energy
Conclusions

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