Abstract
Fluorite is the principal mineral of fluorine and usually coexists with quartz in deposits. The removal of fine quartz in fluorite concentrate is the main problem in fluorite flotation. In this study, the flotation tests on fluorite, quartz and a weight equivalent mixture (all less than 10 μm) using water glass (with different modulus) as depressants and sodium oleate as collector were conducted. The mechanism of fine quartz entering the fluorite concentrate was investigated through optional observations and rheology measurements on the flotation pulp. The particle interactions between fine fluorite and quartz under flotation-related conditions were analyzed through zeta potential measurements and DLVO calculations. The results revealed that there existed strong hetero-coagulation between fluorite and quartz particles in the flotation pulp, which could be the main reason for the quartz entering the fluorite concentrate in the flotation process. Water glass with higher modulus could eliminate the hetero-coagulation more totally but inevitably influences the flotability of fluorite.
Highlights
Fluorite is the principal mineral of fluorine and is mainly used for the production of hydrofluoric acid and as a flux in steel making
The results showed the addition depress the could hetero-coagulation fluorite and quartz in that flotation pulp. of water glass (WG) could help depresscould the hetero-coagulation between and quartz in flotation energy not come over the barrier.fluorite that the pulp
(3) The addition of water glass helps to depress the hetero-coagulation and improves the flotation selectivity to ainlarge extent; separation efficiency flotation of mixed binary minerals; The Water addition water glass helps eliminates to depress hetero-coagulation improves glassofwith higher modulus thethe hetero-coagulation more and thoroughly through the increasing the energy barrier between finebinary fluoriteminerals; and quartz
Summary
Fluorite is the principal mineral of fluorine and is mainly used for the production of hydrofluoric acid and as a flux in steel making. Fluorite is mostly recovered from these gangue minerals by froth flotation, through which can produce fluorite concentrate with grade up to 99% (by weight). Fatty acids and their derivatives are used as collectors for fluorite [1,2]. The common opinion for the collecting mechanism is the chemisorption that derives from the chemical interactions between the exposed Ca2+ on fluorite surface and carboxyl (–COO–) in the collectors [3,4]. The major requirement for the flotation process is the removal of the large amount of quartz in the flotation feeds. For this purpose, depressants are often added to depress the flotation of quartz
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
