Sphalerite/silica interaction: Zeta potential distribution measurement

Abstract

An appropriate measurement is needed to control the calcium ion content and reduce the interaction among fine mineral particles. In this paper, the sphalerite/silica interactions were studied by Zeta potential measurements and a novel Zeta potential distribution (ZPD) measurement method in different concentrations of calcium ion solution. To study mineral surface molecular and atomic absorption states, energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) were used. Flotation reagent adsorbed on the mineral surface was analyzed by the interactions status. The results show that adsorption of flotation reagent is not conducive when the calcium ion concentration is high in the solution. Reducing the calcium ion concentration is the effective method to reduce particle interactions in the pulp. The specific method is that the appropriate amount of sodium carbonate is added into the gypsum-supersaturated solution. The minerals’ interactions can be interpreted by measuring ZPD.