Process development for treatment of complex perovskite, ilmenite and rutile ores

Abstract

The flotation processing characteristics of pervoskite, ilmenite and rutile from igneous and sedimentary ores were examined in the course of developing a commercial treatment process. Flotability of these minerals was found to be strongly influenced by a) flotation pH, b) pulp treatment before flotation, and c) type of collector. Modified ester-based collectors, such as phosphoric acid ester, were examined. When these collectors are modified with fatty alcohol ester sulphates, petroleum sulphonate or succinamate, their flotation performance is significantly improved. Efficient flotation of perovskite was achieved with phosphoric acid ester modified with fatty alcohol ester sulphate while ilmenite was floated with phosphoric acid ester modified with petroleum sulphonate. A mixture of phosphoric acid ester and succinamate was the most effective for rutile flotation. Modified phosphoric acid ester was evaluated in both laboratory and pilot plant testwork. Because of the complex gangue compositions of the ores tested, special attention was placed on the selection and evaluation of different gangue depressants. This paper summarizes progress in the development of new collectors for flotation of titanium minerals from complex titanium ores.