The effect of iron on the interfacial behavior of ethoxylated ethers with different structures and sodium oleate during the flotation of phosphate ores

Improving froth characteristics and flotation recovery of phosphate ores with nonionic surfactants

A classification of flotation processes carried out in concentrated electrolyte solutions, e.g., seawater, is proposed using the most obvious features of these processes: low or high content of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions, pulp ionic strength, and pH. The first distinguishable group is the processes carried out in NaCl/KCl solutions, about 0.5 M in the case of salt flotation of inherently hydrophobic minerals, and at concentrations about 10 times higher in the flotation of potash ores. In the flotation of sulfide ores, such as nickel or copper ores, with xanthate-like collectors, the xanthate collector is apparently not affected by pulp ionic strength and only adjustment of frother may be required. Content of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in seawater is the main difference between such systems and fresh water. The presence of these metallic ions can adversely affect flotation in the pH ranges over which these ions hydrolyse. The successful flotation of Cu-Mo ores typically requires depression of pyrite at high pH values achieved with the use of lime. However, in seawater, flotation of Cu-Mo ores requires removal of the hydrolysis products of the Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions or the use of a pyrite depressant that can be effective over the pH ranges that are much below the pH of hydrolysis. Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions also affect flotation of phosphate ores with fatty acids. In this case, the depression mechanism is not caused by precipitating magnesium hydroxides on the mineral surface but by precipitation of collector insoluble salts, and the same ions are responsible for depression in both cases. In the seawater flotation of Cu-Mo sulfide ores and phosphate ores, the practical solution involves either removal of Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions prior to the flotation or complexation with other reagents.

Reagents used in the flotation of phosphate ores: a critical review

Chapter 26 - Flotation of Phosphate Ore

Effects of dissolved fluoride in phosphate ore flotation systems on the surfaces properties of dolomite

Utilization of a new Gemini surfactant as the collector for the reverse froth flotation of phosphate ore in sustainable production of phosphate fertilizer

The search for environmentally friendly reagents with high efficiency, high selectivity, and low cost has intensified in the mining sector in recent years. The use of depressants from alternative and renewable sources is an option to be considered. Thus, the purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of residual potato starch pulp (RPSP) generated by the food industry as a depressant in phosphate ore flotation by comparing its performance with that of commercial, waxy corn starch (CWCS), rich in amylopectin. To this end, eight flotation tests were performed in duplicate using the Denver mechanical cell. The results showed significant variations for flotation in the collector dosage and starch-type parameters. The increase from 150 to 350 g/t in the collector dosage promoted an approximately 18% increase in metallurgical recovery using 500 g/t of RPSP starch (an increase from 73.09% to 86.16%). The response optimization statistical tool showed that RPSP and collector dosages should be 500 and 226.77 g/t, respectively, to maximize the P2O5 content and metallurgical recovery. These results suggest that it is feasible to use RPSP in phosphate ore flotation, opening new fields of investigation regarding the use of more accessible and economical depressants.

Lecithin as an ecofriendly amphoteric collector foaming agent for the reverse flotation of phosphate ore

Studies on grinding media wear and its effect on flotation of ferrugenous phosphate ore

The depression effect and mechanism of NSFC on dolomite in the flotation of phosphate ore

Smart collectors: Control of the wettability and floatability of quartz with UV irradiation

Kinetic considerations in the flotation of phosphate ore

The phosphate ore flotation is achieved through the surface electrical behavior difference among apatite, dolomite and quartz, but it is usually affected by the dissolved ions from pulp, especially Ca2+ and Mg2+. The zeta potentials of apatite, dolomite, quartz and phosphate ore in different solutions were measured to discuss the surface electrical behaviors of them in this study. It was found that the apatite, dolomite and phosphate ore supernatants have limited impact on the zeta potentials of the respective surfaces themselves, but the surface electrical behaviors of apatite and dolomite in the supernatant of the other is similar to the supernatant mineral source. This will increase the separation difficulty of apatite from dolomite in the phosphate ore flotation process. The negative zeta-potential of apatite, dolomite, quartz and phosphate ore increase in the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+. Moreover, a more zeta potential increase in presence of Ca2+ than Mg2+ was investigated, suggesting a stronger influence of Ca2+ than Mg2+ on the surface electrical behaviors of ores.

Utilization of polyepoxysuccinic acid as the green selective depressant for the clean flotation of phosphate ores

Phosphate ore is an important strategic mineral resource. The efficient utilization of phosphate resources faces challenges such as low grade of raw ore and difficulty in discharging gangue minerals. One of the key problems to be solved urgently in the reverse flotation of phosphate ore is the effective depression of apatite. However, research on the influence mechanism of acid depressants on the surface properties and adsorption characteristics of apatite is still insufficient. In this study, the influence of different depressants (such as sulfuric acid, phosphoric acid or mixed acid of sulfur acid and phosphorus acid) on the flotation separation performance of an artificial mixture of apatite and dolomite (gangue mineral) was investigated through laboratory flotation tests. On this basis, with the addition of different depressants, the contact angle, zeta potential, XPS and TOC were used to investigate the surface wettability, surface charge, surface species and the adsorption characteristics of the collector (sodium oleate) on the apatite surface, and, accordingly, the inhibiting mechanism was discussed. The results show that, when mixed acid of sulfur acid and phosphorus acid is used as a depressant, a concentrate with a P2O5 grade of 33.53% and a recovery of 88.92% can be obtained, and the parameters are better than when using phosphoric acid with a P2O5 grade of 30.15% and a recovery of 80.12% or sulfuric acid with a P2O5 grade of 30.12% and a recovery of 80.58%. Our analysis shows that the mixed acid has the best inhibiting effect on apatite, which is mainly due to the following: (a) after adding the mixed acid, chemicals such as CaSO4, CaHPO4/Ca(H2PO4)2 are generated on the surface of apatite, resulting in a significant reduction in the contact angle and stronger surface hydrophilicity; (b) the mixed acid reduces the zeta potential of apatite, produces new species and weakens the non-selective adsorption of negatively charged oleate on the surface of apatite, thus preventing the apatite from floating.