Abstract
The influence of quartz on the flotation of fine wolframite using octyl hydroxamic acid (OHA) as the collector was investigated by micro-flotation tests, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) measurements, adsorption experiments, zeta potential, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis. Micro-flotation tests showed that a large difference in floatability existed between fine wolframite and quartz in the pH range of 7.0 to 10.0. However, in a synthetic mixture, the flotation separation of fine wolframite from quartz became more difficult as the particle size of the latter decreased. When a dissolved solution of wolframite was used as the flotation medium, quartz floatability improved significantly. Zeta potentials of quartz particles shifted positively in the dissolved solution of wolframite compared to distilled water, especially at a pH level of 7.0–10.0, which was attributed to the metal ions dissolved from the wolframite being adsorbed onto the quartz surface. The surface activation of quartz led to an increase in the OHA adsorption and made the surface hydrophobic. FT-IR analysis further demonstrated that OHA could adsorb onto the activated quartz surface through a dominantly chemical process.
Highlights
Wolframite, the same-phase compounds of FeWO4 and MnWO4 tungstates crystallizing in a monoclinic structure, mainly occurs in high-temperature hydrothermal quartz veins and is the primary source of tungsten products
With the addition of octyl hydroxamic acid (OHA), the zeta potentials of activated quartz shifted to more negative charges, which implied that the attractive force between and quartz was surfaces through a covalent bond, which is consistent with the results revealed by dissolved from surfaces increased adsorption on quartz surfaces, improving larger than their wolframite electrostatic repulsion force
This study systematically investigated the involvement of quartz in the flotation of fine wolframite using octyl hydroxamic acid as a collector
Summary
Wolframite, the same-phase compounds of FeWO4 and MnWO4 tungstates crystallizing in a monoclinic structure, mainly occurs in high-temperature hydrothermal quartz veins and is the primary source of tungsten products. The use of slimes produced by the comminution process, due to the brittle nature of wolframite, is urgently needed [1,2]. Froth flotation is regarded as the most effective method for the separation and use of slimes and finely disseminated particles [3,4]. Anionic surfactants, such as fatty acids, phosphonic acid, sarcosine acid, and hydroxamic acid, are usually used as collectors for fine wolframite flotation. Quartz is the major gangue mineral associated with fine wolframite in the flotation concentrate.
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