Abstract
This paper reports the measured froth zone (Rf) and collection zone (Rc) recoveries in the flotation of pure quartz, pure hematite, and a quartz-hematite mixture with one of three corn starches with different mass ratios of amylose to amylopectin: waxy starch (0:100), normal starch (27:73), and Gelose 50 (50:50). The flotation tests were carried out at continuous mode using a three-product column at different pHs and starch concentrations with sodium oleate as collector and calcium chloride as activator. It was found that both Rf and Rc were significantly affected by pH and starch type and concentration. In the flotation of pure quartz or hematite, addition of each of the corn starches tested would decrease the Rf and Rc, with the effects following the order of waxy starch > normal starch > Gelose 50. The decreases in Rf and Rc coincided with the increase in the aggregate size caused by addition of these starches. Possible correlations between Rf, solid flux at the pulp-froth interface and Rc were examined. In the flotation of the quartz-hematite mixture, the changes in Rf and Rc of Fe caused by varying starch type and dosage were consistent with those in the flotation of pure hematite.
Published Version
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