Bauxite Flotation Research Articles

The role of cationic polyacrylamide in the reverse flotation of diasporic bauxite

The reverse flotation separation of kaolinite and diaspore has been achieved by using the collector dodecylamine (DDA) and depressant cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) at pH 5.5–8.5. The flotation results have been explained by adsorption measurement, solution chemistry and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. At pH 5.5–8.5, the main components at the diaspore/water interface are Al OH 2 + , Al OH and Al O −. The Al OH 2 + and Al OH sites can adsorb the C( O)NH 2 groups through Al O H⋯O or Al O H 2 + ⋯ O hydrogen bonds. Simultaneously, the Al O − sites adsorb CH 2N +(CH 3) 3 groups by electrostatic effects or adsorb C( O)NH 2 group through the N H⋯ −O Al hydrogen bond. The absorption of CPAM on all the crystal planes of diaspore prevented the majority of DDA cationic species from adsorbing on the diaspore surface, and thus, depressed diaspore flotation. The adsorption ability of the CPAM cation group on the negatively charged sites on the kaolinite surface was weakened by the inductive and steric effect of methyl in CH 2N +(CH 3) 3 groups, which made CPAM have a insignificant effect on the adsorption of DDA on the kaolinite surface and its cation flotation.

Effect of hydroxamic acid polymers on reverse flotation of bauxite

The effect of hydroxamic acid starch (HAS) and hydroxamic acid polyacrylamide (HPAM) on the flotation of diaspore and kaolinite was investigated by flotation test. It is found that HAS depresses diaspore but activates kaolinite in acidic pulp, while HPAM activates both diaspore and kaolinite in the pH range of 2.0–10.5. The measurement of zeta potential shows that both HAS and HPAM can increase zeta potential of negatively charged diaspore, which indicates the existence of chemical bonding or hydrogen bonding between the reagents and diaspore. By covering the collector dodecyl amine (DDA) on diaspore surface, HAS increases the hydrophilicity of minerals and depresses the flotation of diaspore, however HPAM activates the flotation of diaspore by increasing the adsorption of DDA on diaspore surface.

A novel collector RL for flotation of bauxite

The flotation properties of single minerals such as diaspore, kaolinite and pyrophllite in bauxites were investigated using RL as collector. The effects of regulators and unavoidable ions on flotation were studied. Based on the results of single minerals flotation, the separation experiments of mixed minerals and bauxite ore were carried out. The results of closed circuit test on the ore show that, using RL as collector, Na2CO3 and (NaPO3)6 as modifiers, the grade of Al2O3 and SiO2 are respectively 70.74% and 6.37% in concentrate (Al/Si 11.11), and the recovery of Al2O3 can reach 90.52%.

Distribution behavior of collector in the desilication system of bauxite flotation

The distribution behavior of the HZB collector (a kind of long chain fatty acid) in the desilication system of bauxite flotation was studied. The results show that the collector tends towards froth products in the steps of the roughing, the first cleaning and the second cleaning, while towards the tailing product in the step of the scavenging, and in each job except scavenging the collector is mainly on the surface of solids. As for the froth product in the step of the scavenging, it is mainly in solution. To the tailing products of every step, it is mainly in the respective solutions. The collector added to the flotation system is mainly taken out by the last concentrate, by which the taken one occupies 65.2% of the whole, among which, 57.8% is by solid and 7.4% by solution, respectively. And the one by the last tail occupies 34.8% of the whole, among which, 8.8% is by solid and 26.0% by solution, respectively. The sum of the collector in the solution of the last concentrate and tailing is 33.4% of the amount of addition collector, and recycling the solutions will be in favor of decreasing the dosage of collector.