Abstract
The effect of ferric ions (Fe3+) on the flotation of zircon and cassiterite using sodium oleate (NaOL) was investigated by single mineral flotation tests, adsorption density tests, zeta potential measurements, solution chemistry analyses, and FTIR analyses. It is difficult for zircon to be separated from cassiterite by using NaOL alone. Nevertheless, the flotation of zircon was activated while that of cassiterite was depressed in the presence of Fe3+. Adsorption density tests indicated that the addition of Fe3+ enhanced the adsorption of NaOL on zircon surfaces, whereas it receded on cassiterite surfaces. Zeta potential measurements and solution chemistry analyses found that H(OL) 2 − was the predominant species to determine the flotation behaviors of zircon and cassiterite. Furthermore, the addition of Fe3+ at pH < 8 reduced the negative charges on the zircon and cassiterite surfaces. It was confirmed that the positive charges of zircon were caused by the positively charged species of Fe3+, including Fe3+, Fe(OH)2+, and Fe(OH) 2 + . Meanwhile, these results revealed that the hydroxy complex and the precipitate of Fe(OH)3(s) adsorbed onto the cassiterite surfaces caused the flotation of cassiterite to be inhibited. It can be concluded from FTIR analyses that the peaks of zircon at 894.14 cm−1 and 611.65 cm−1 were strengthened and the adsorption on zircon surfaces was found to be chemisorption due to the addition of Fe3+, whereas both chemical and physical adsorptions of NaOL on cassiterite surfaces were weakened, resulting in the different flotation behaviors of zircon and cassiterite in the presence of Fe3+.
Highlights
Zircon (ZrSiO4 ), which is the most important zirconium-containing mineral on earth, has direct applications in the cast, glass, ceramic, and pigment industries because of its high melting point and steady chemical properties
Zircon is known as a heavy mineral and defined as having a specific gravity greater than 3.5 [1], and it usually coexists with some heavy minerals including cassiterite, tantalum, niobium, magnetite, ilmenite, and some other minerals such as quartz, feldspar, and clay [2,3,4,5]
This study presents the surface chemistry profiles and flotation behaviors in terms of single mineral flotation tests, adsorption density tests, zeta potential measurements, solution chemistry analyses, and FTIR measurements
Summary
Zircon (ZrSiO4 ), which is the most important zirconium-containing mineral on earth, has direct applications in the cast, glass, ceramic, and pigment industries because of its high melting point and steady chemical properties. To improve the quality of products, zircon is further separated from other heavy minerals, such as magnetite, ilmenite, and cassiterite, by a series of magnetic and electrostatic separation processes. The removal of magnetite and ilmenite from zircon is easier to achieve via magnetic separation because these two minerals are magnetic. The mineral surfaces of zircon are usually coated with some electric metal minerals which contain titanium, iron, and other materials such as clay. These contaminants make it very difficult to achieve an effective separation using electrostatic separation. The effect of Fe3+ on the flotation of zircon and cassiterite at various concentrations and pH levels using an anionic NaOL collector was investigated. This study presents the surface chemistry profiles and flotation behaviors in terms of single mineral flotation tests, adsorption density tests, zeta potential measurements, solution chemistry analyses, and FTIR measurements
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