Influence of surface dissolution on reagents’ adsorption on low-grade phosphate ore and its flotation selectivity

Abstract

A preliminary study was conducted on the Hallimond tube to find routes for the direct flotation of fluorapatite. Carboxymethylcellulose-sodium oleate and sodium alginate-sodium oleate were the most promising depressant-collector combinations. Apatite recovery exceeded 95%. Conversely, replication of these findings in the mechanical flotation cell proved to be different. The results show a flotation of the calcite, while the fluorapatite remains in the tailings. Grades of 27.63% P2O5 with a recovery of 69.9% and 28.22% P2O5 with a recovery of 73.93% were obtained in the non-floated fraction using 1500 g/t of sodium oleate and 25 g/t of sodium alginate and carboxymethylcellulose as depressants, respectively.The effects of metal ions on the flotation behavior of fluorapatite, calcite, and quartz were investigated through micro-flotation tests and bench-scale flotation experiments. The findings were further elucidated by dissolution study, zeta potential measurements, and FTIR analyses. The results demonstrated that pulp water containing large amounts of Ca2+, Mg2+, and Fe3+ directly influences the performance of apatite flotation. Fluorapatite recovery substantially dropped from 97.27% in deionized water, reaching values below 11.11% at alkaline pH. These ionic species interfere in the interfacial processes and perturb selective adsorption. Ca2+ ions favor the precipitation of CaCO3, hence forms a coating on the apatite surface, rendering it unavailable for NaOL chemisorption. Ca2+, Mg2+, and Fe3+ complex with the reagents and the precipitates adsorb onto the minerals’ surfaces, impairing their floatability. Also, their presence activates the quartz surface, increasing its recovery. Zeta potential curves overlap, implying a similar build-up of negative charge on the three mineral surfaces. The most intense peaks in FTIR spectra indicated more adsorption, suggesting that the detrimental species Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe3+ must be involved in adsorption mechanisms and explain flotation trend change.