Utilization of sodium humate as selective depressants for calcite on the flotation of scheelite

Abstract

ABSTRACTThe flotation separation of scheelite from calcite using sodium humate (SH) as a potential depressant has been studied through micro-flotation experiments, zeta potential and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra measurements. The flotation results indicate SH exhibited selective depression effect on calcite in the presence of sodium oleate, achieving the flotation separation of scheelite from calcite. Zeta potential results indicate that SH strongly absorbed on calcite surface but negligibly on scheelite surface, which prevents the adsorption of sodium oleate on calcite surface. The FT-IR results also show that SH can be adsorb on the surface of calcite. Results shown a higher Ca density on the calcite than on scheelite surface, and that calcite can accommodate the interaction of SH.