Flotation Efficiency Research Articles

Effects of micro- and nano-bubbles on the flotation separation of unburned carbon from coal fly ash

ABSTRACT Nanobubble technology has found extensive use in enhancing the flotation efficiency of various minerals. The utilization of nanobubbles in flotation encompasses bulk nanobubbles, surface nanobubbles, and microbubbles; however, a comprehensive comparison of their respective roles is lacking. Furthermore, there is a dearth of studies on employing nanobubble systems in the flotation of coal fly ash. The coal fly ash characters were initially studied to reveal its ultrafine size (d50: 24.80 μm) and porous structure that includes a multitude of hydrophilic functional groups. These attributes contribute to the inadequate hydrophobicity of unburned carbon within the ash. Subsequently, the effects of different collector types, frother types, and air flow rates on the efficiency of carbon removal using conventional flotation methods were examined. Comparative analysis showed that conventional flotation using diesel oil outperformed that which employed kerosene as the collector. Additionally, higher carbon removal efficiency was achieved using MIBC, with a longer carbon chain length, as the frother, as opposed to sec-Octyl alcohol. Furthermore, a direct relationship between air flow rate and coal fly ash flotation performance was observed – higher air flow rates corresponded to improved flotation outcomes. Finally, a comparison between conventional flotation and nanobubble-assisted flotation (utilizing bulk nanobubbles, surface nanobubbles, and micro-nanobubbles) was conducted. Remarkably, micro-nanobubble flotation yielded the most promising results, with the lowest loss-on-ignition in flotation tailings (3.15%) and the highest removal efficiency of unburned carbon (85.01%). These findings satisfied the loss-on-ignition requirements of Grade I fly ash standards.

Mechanistic study of the effects of ultrafine grinding on the surface properties of anthracite coal particles and interface regulation on froth flotation under multifactorial influences

Anthracite, a valuable and scarce coal, typically requires systematic liberation for deep deashing, wherein the particle size reduces to the micron level upon ultrafine grinding. Changes in the physicochemical properties of anthracite particles induced by ultrafine grinding significantly impact subsequent flotation. Accordingly, in this study, a scanning electron microscopy (SEM)-energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) system, an Opton IPCAS maceral analyzer, a high-sensitivity microelectromechanical balancer, and an X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS) were employed to investigate the changes in the physicochemical properties of the anthracite particle surface during ultrafine grinding. The flotation efficiency of ultrafine anthracite coal is determined by various factors such as the extent of sample liberation, surface wettability, and the state of inorganic mineral coatings. During the initial phase of ultrafine grinding, the comminution efficiency of the sample is high, leading to a progressive increase in the hydrophobicity. However, suboptimal flotation performance results from inadequate liberation. When the sample is liberated to an ultrafine scale, a higher degree of liberation is achieved. The particle surfaces become increasingly covered with inorganic minerals, accompanied by intensified oxidation, leading to a gradually reduced particle hydrophobicity that impaired the flotation performance. This study advances our knowledge on the mechanism by which ultrafine grinding alters the physicochemical properties of anthracite coal particles and affects the flotation processes. The theoretical framework of this study provides crucial insights for interface regulation in the preparation of ultra-low ash anthracite coal and ultrafine coal flotation.

A case study on the recovery of unevenly embedded particle size in high-carbon chalcopyrite using an alkyne-based thioester collector: Flotation processing and adsorption mechanism

The difference in chalcopyrite's primary ore-hosting rocks (dolomite and carbonaceous slate) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo results in an extremely uneven grain size distribution. Additionally, the presence of 2.21% organic carbon in the gangue impacts flotation efficiency. To address these challenges, ore properties were analyzed using the Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA), X-Ray Diffractometer (XRD), and microscopy. Flotation process was modified to incorporate a "middlings regrinding" processing, utilizing PDEC (an alkyne-based thioester collector, prop-2-yn-1-yl diethylcarbamodithioate) as the collector for experimental studies. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations elucidated the interaction mechanism of PDEC on chalcopyrite's surface. The MLA analysis indicates that chalcopyrite is mainly found in medium to fine grains, with the presence of fine-grained copper minerals smaller than 0.04mm accounting for 16.29% of the sample. This implies that these minerals require fine grinding for effective separation. Despite interference from organic carbon, PDEC demonstrates remarkable selectivity and efficiency in chalcopyrite flotation. By employing the "middlings regrinding" flotation method, a concentrate with a Cu content of 26.79% and a recovery of 87.88% was achieved, representing an increase of 0.17% in Cu grade and 4.09% in recovery rate compared to the conventional flotation process. DFT analysis demonstrates that the S 3p orbitals in carbon-sulfur double bond of PDEC and the C 2p orbitals in its acetylene group significantly affect its collection efficiency, engaging in hybridization with the Fe 3d orbitals on the surface of chalcopyrite, thereby facilitating a robust bonding interaction.

Experimental study on ash reduction by classification flotation

ABSTRACT Poor endowment conditions, with abundant reserves of high-impurity and low- quality coal resources, characterize the coal resources in our country. As the primary source of carbon emissions, the coal industry faces a critical challenge in actively contributing to environmental protection and carbon reduction within the context of striving for carbon peak and carbon neutrality. With the widespread application of mechanized coal mining and the deteriorating geological conditions of coal resources, coal slurry particles have become increasingly fine. Additionally, a large amount of gangue minerals mixes with the coal slurry, resulting in an increase in ash content and a decrease in floatability. This places higher demands on the separation of high-ash, difficult-to-float coal slurry. This issue has become a core concern that needs to be addressed within the coal industry. This study employs a classification flotation technology to reduce ash content and improve the quality of low-quality coal slurry. The research primarily focuses on the flotation ash reduction effects of the grain size of −0.5 mm and classified grain-size coal slurry under various pulp concentrations, collector concentrations, and frother concentrations. It also analyzes the impact of a rougher and two cleaner flotation processes on the flotation efficiency. Experimental results indicate that the optimal reagent concentrations and process parameters differ for each particle size of the coal slurry. Under the best flotation conditions, the experimental results for the rougher and two cleaner flotation processes are as follows: For the grain size of −0.5 mm coal slurry, the clean coal yield is 48.40%, with an ash content of 11.02%. For the grain size of − 0.5 + 0.125 mm coal slurry, the clean coal yield is 50.53%, with an ash content of 10.72%. For the grain size of − 0.125 + 0.045 mm coal slurry, the clean coal yield is 49.56%, with an ash content of 9.24%. For the grain size of −0.045 mm coal slurry, the clean coal yield is 48.73%, with an ash content of 10.97%. Notably, the classified grain-size coal slurry exhibits higher clean coal yields and lower ash content than the grain size of −0.5 mm coal slurry, highlighting the significant importance of classification flotation for coal slurry.

The effects of ultrasound modified kerosene on the flotation of flake graphite

ABSTRACT In the mineral processing engineering, ultrasound is usually used to modify reagents to improve the flotation. The study analyses the effects of the modified kerosene on the flotation of flake graphite. The outcomes demonstrate that the modified kerosene can substantially improve flake graphite’s floatation efficiency. In comparison to unmodified kerosene, the dosage of modified kerosene can be reduced while the recovery of graphite remains the same. Furthermore, the effect of modified kerosene was evaluated using various detection techniques including particle size distribution measurement, contact angle tests, turbidity tests, and cryo-scanning electron microscopy (Cryo-SEM) . The findings indicate that ultrasound modification significantly reduces the size of kerosene to 1–2 μm droplets and improves their dispersion in the aqueous solution. The enhanced dispersion and reduced droplets size of modified kerosene led to a better interaction between kerosene and the surface of flake graphite minerals. As a result, the consumption of kerosene was reduced, but the graphite flotation efficiency was improved.

Electrochemical action on the flotation beneficiation of ordinary iron ore concentrate

One of the main challenges in processing fresh ferruginous quartzites is to obtain high-quality iron ore concentrates containing more than 70% total iron and less than 1.8% silica to produce DR pellets and hot Briquetted Iron (HBI). Currently, it is widely recognized that the most effective methods to achieve high-quality iron ore concentrates is through reverse flotation using cationic amine collectors in an alkaline medium. However, due to the very fine impregnation of magnetite in quartz, the insufficiently complete release of magnetite even with fine grinding, and the proximity of the flotation (surface) behavior of the separated minerals, high-quality concentrates are not always achievable in the flotation process. Consequently, exploring methods to enhance the efficiency of flotation separation of minerals and improve concentrate quality remains a pertinent issue. Historical studies have shown that electrochemical treatment can adjust the properties of reagents, enhance their effect on specific minerals, and thus control the flotation process. The efficiency of quartz and other silicates flotation by amines significantly depends on the ratio of ionic and molecular forms of the reagent in aqueous solutions of the collector and in the flotation pulp. Altering this ratio can impact the outcomes of reverse cationic flotation of iron ores. It is feasible to change the ratio of the amine forms through electrochemical oxidation or reduction of the reagent solution. Moreover, the electrochemical treatment facilitates the dispersion of the amine in the aqueous medium and its physical adsorption on minerals. Therefore, electrochemical pretreatment of amines can be considered a promising method for intensifying the reverse flotation of iron ore. This paper presents research results aimed at improving the quality of the oversize of the fine screening of ordinary magnetite concentrate from Mikhailovsky GOK, named after A.V. Varichev, through the use of electrochemically treated solutions of cationic amine class collectors in the process of reverse cationic flotation. The research findings confirmed the feasibility of using preliminary diaphragmless electrochemical treatment of reagents Tomamine RA-14 and Lilaflot 811M (esters of monoamine of different composition) for the targeted modification of their properties and for increasing the efficiency of reverse flotation. Consequently, the silica content in the flotation cell product decreased from 1.66–1.7% to 1.51–1.56, with the grade of total iron exceeding 70%.

Effects of Temperature on Spodumene Flotation and Gas–Liquid Interface of Sodium Oleate Solutions

This study investigates the negative impact of temperature on spodumene flotation from the perspective of the gas–liquid interface of sodium oleate (NaOL) solutions. Micro-flotation tests revealed a significant decrease in the flotation recovery of spodumene when NaOL was employed as a collector, dropping from 55.3% at 305.4 K to 5.1% at 277.3 K as the temperature decreased. A strong linear correlation between the surface tension of the NaOL solution and temperature was established. As the temperature decreased, the surface tension of 6 × 10−5 mol/L NaOL increased from 37.88 mN/m at 294.9 K to 40.71 mN/m at 281.9 K, while its critical micelle concentration decreased from 9.49 × 10−4 mol/L at 305.0 K to 6.85 × 10−4 mol/L at 288.0 K. Additionally, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations indicated that a decrease in temperature resulted in an enhancement of intermolecular action forces, a more compacted interfacial structure, and weakened molecular thermal motion at the gas–liquid interface of the NaOL solution. These variations were found to be the main reason for the rise in the surface tension of the NaOL solution as the temperature decreased, which in turn lowered its efficiency, resulting in a decrease in the flotation efficiency of spodumene.

Prediction of multi-stage froth flotation efficiency of complex lead–zinc sulfide ore using an integrated ensemble neural network–random forest model

Despite the long history of flotation in the mineral processing industry, its prediction and understanding remains a great challenge owing to its many variables acting in a complex manner. In this study, we introduced machine learning (ML) models to predict the grade and yield of a multi-stage flotation process of a complex lead–zinc sulfide ore. Over 100 batch flotation tests were conducted in a stepwise manner to characterize different rougher-cleaner-scavenger configurations. Performing a pre-flotation of talc prior to sulfide flotation remarkably improved the grade of lead concentrate. The experimental data were divided into four subsets for the ML models: rougher without pre-flotation, rougher with pre-flotation, cleaner, and cleaner-scavenger datasets. Different ML models were evaluated to determine whether they could predict the lead grade, zinc grade, and yield related to key flotation parameters, including particle size, reagent dosage, and pulp pH. The integrated ensemble neural network and random forest model yielded the best prediction results with R2 values of 0.924, 0.902, 0.973, and 0.894 for the rougher without pre-flotation, rougher with pre-flotation, cleaner, and cleaner-scavenger subsets, respectively. The developed ML model, with the connection of subset models, effectively predicted the flotation outcome of the rougher-cleaner-scavenger circuit, demonstrating a better prediction performance than previous methods. This indicates that the developed ML model can potentially predict flotation process performance and evaluate the efficiency of newly designed multi-stage froth flotation processes.

Study on the effect of flow field optimization on flotation efficiency

ABSTRACT With the help of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) methodology, the Eulerian model was used for numerical simulation of XFD type flotation machine. By altering the flow field pattern, analyzing the internal flow characteristics of the flotation machine in terms of velocity field and turbulivity, and optimizing its structure, the relationship between turbulence intensity and turbulent energy dissipation rate in the flotation machine is investigated. The findings demonstrate that altering the flow field pattern enhances the turbulence in the flotation machine’s mixing zone, enhances the velocity distribution of the three-phase fluid at the bottom of the flotation tank, and fosters bubble-particle contact, collision, and adhesion. This can successfully reduce the clean coal ash content.

Online analysis of iron ore slurry using PGNAA technology with artificial neural network

Real-time analysis of metallic mineral grade and slurry concentration is significant for improving flotation efficiency and product quality. This study proposes an online detection method of ore slurry combining the Prompt Gamma Neutron Activation Analysis (PGNAA) technology and artificial neural network (ANN), which can provide mineral information rapidly and accurately. Firstly, a PGNAA analyzer based on a D-T neutron generator and a BGO detector was used to obtain a gamma-ray spectrum dataset of ore slurry samples, which was used to construct and optimize the ANN model for adaptive analysis. The evaluation metrics calculated by leave-one-out cross-validation indicated that, compared with the weighted library least squares (WLLS) approach, ANN obtained more precise and stable results, with mean absolute percentage errors of 4.66% and 2.80% for Fe grade and slurry concentration, respectively, and the highest average standard deviation of only 0.0119. Meanwhile, the analytical errors of the samples most affected by matrix effects was reduced to 0.61 times and 0.56 times of the WLLS method, respectively.

Effect of Carboxyl Group Position on Assembly Behavior and Structure of Hydrocarbon Oil-Carboxylic Acid Compound Collector on Low-Rank Coal Surface: Sum-Frequency Vibration Spectroscopy and Coarse-Grained Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study.

In this work, the assembly behavior and structure of a compound collector with different carboxyl group positions at the low-rank coal (LRC)-water interface were investigated through coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulation (CGMD) combined with sum-frequency vibration spectroscopy (SFG). The choice of compound collector was dodecane +decanoic acid (D-DA) and dodecane +2-butyl octanoic acid (D-BA). CGMD results showed that the carboxyl group at the carbon chain's middle can better control the assembly process between carboxylic acid and D molecules. SFG research found that the carboxyl group at the carbon chain's termination had a greater impact on the displacement of the methyl/methylene symmetric stretching vibration peak, while the carboxyl group at the carbon chain's middle had a greater impact on the displacement of the methyl/methylene asymmetric stretching vibration peak. The spatial angle calculation results revealed that the methyl group's orientation angle in the D-BA molecule was smaller and the carboxyl group's orientation angle in the BA molecule was bigger, indicating that D-BA spread more flatly on the LRC surface than D-DA. This meant that the assembled structure had a larger effective adsorption area on the LRC surface. The flotation studies also verified that the assembly behavior and structure of D-BA with the carboxyl group at the carbon chain's middle at the LRC-water interface were more conducive to the improvement of flotation efficiency. The study of interface assembly behavior and structure by CGMD combined with SFG is crucial for the creation of effective compound collectors.

Reagent dosage inference based on graph convolutional memory perception network for zinc roughing flotation

In froth flotation, the precise presetting of reagent dosage is crucial for enhancing mineral recovery and flotation efficiency. Considering that the manual operation method is susceptible to some subjective factors, many machine vision-based intelligent reagent dosage presetting approaches are developed. However, prevailing presetting methods primarily rely on empirical knowledge, and ignore the potential intelligent reasoning processes, resulting in a suboptimal flotation performance. In this paper, a reagent dosage inference method based on a graph convolutional memory perception network is proposed, which can leverage the power of both empirical knowledge and neural network to deduce the optimal reagent dosages. This method constructs a memory unit stored with representative operation data, which can be served as a reservoir of empirical knowledge, facilitating dosage inference by referencing relevant data according to the current flotation condition. Subsequently, a graph convolutional neural network is developed to acquire the logical connections between reagent dosage and key parameters of the flotation process. Finally, with the guidance of empirical knowledge, a multi-head attention perception module is employed to deduce the optimal reagent dosage according to the current flotation condition and the acquired logical connection. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been validated in the experiment. Compared to other methods, the proposed method obtains more accurate inference results, and its inferred reagent dosage achieves more satisfactory flotation effect.

Influence of algal organic matter in the in-situ flotation removal of Microcystis using positively charged bubbles

Positively charged bubbles efficiently capture and remove negatively charged algal cells without relying on coagulation-flocculation. However, the efficiency is notably influenced by the presence of algal organic matter (AOM). This study investigated the impact of AOM composition on flotation performance by analyzing AOM from various growth phases of Microcystis flos-aquae. The results indicated that low-concentration AOM (<5 mg C L-1), particularly the high molecular weight (>30 kDa) fractions containing high percentages of protein during the exponential growth phase, significantly improved the flotation efficiency by >18%. A high-speed camera system illustrates the pivotal role of low-concentration protein-containing AOM in forming network structures that enhance cell capture. These protein-driven network structures, which enhance the flotation efficiency, provide valuable insights into the development of effective in-situ algal bloom prevention techniques.

Effect of different process water sources on rougher flotation efficiency of a copper ore: A case study at Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex (Iran)

In this research, the effect of different sources of process water on the flotation efficiency of copper sulfide ore prepared from the Sarcheshmeh copper mine was investigated. For this purpose, samples of fresh water to the plant, overflows of copper-molybdenum concentrate thickener, copper concentrate thickener, and recycled water pool as well as a mixture of fresh water and recycled water were prepared and characterized. Flotation tests were performed under the same conditions as the plant’s rougher circuit and were kept constant during all experiments. Grade and recovery of copper, iron, molybdenum, and silica were selected as the metallurgical response of flotation tests. The results were subjected to statistical analysis to assess the relative significance of which water source affects the flotation performance as evaluated from the experimental results. The results showed that the copper concentrate thickener overflow had the greatest effect on the flotation efficiency, so the grade and recovery decreased by about 10% and 75% for copper, and 10% and 6% for iron in the concentrate, respectively, while the grade and recovery increased up to 0.1% and 12% for silica, and 3% and 25% for molybdenum, respectively. The reason for this effect was attributed to the high content of suspended solid particles, and Cu2+, Mo2+, and Fe2+ cations in this water source that increased the coating effect over gangue minerals and entrainment rate. The improvement of molybdenum flotation was also ascribed to the possible presence of residual diesel oil from the flotation process in the plant. Due to the relatively equal amount in all sources of process water, the effect of anions and ions of dissolved salts was difficult.

Current status of research on nanobubbles in particle flotation

Froth flotation, as one of the most widely used separation approaches in mineral processing, is commonly used to recover valuable components from minerals. However, maintaining high flotation efficiencies is a serious challenge for conventional froth flotation in the face of decreasing particle size of the minerals to be sorted. To date, there have been plenty of reports on the software of nano-bubbles (NBS) in flotation, and the experimental consequences show that nano-bubbles' introduction has given rise to improvement's different grades in the recovery of varieties of minerals, which highlights the great potential of nano-bubbles for mineral flotation. Nanobubbles have smaller bubble radii and unusually high stability compared to conventional flotation bubbles, and their related behavior in flotation has been a hot research topic. This paper reviews some of the methods of preparing nanobubbles, equipment techniques for characterizing nanobubbles, factors affecting their stability, and some of the popular doctrines. In particular, the reinforcing mechanism of nanobubbles in the particle flotation process is discussed, first, the nanobubbles improve the electrostatic attractiveness with the particles by achieving the charge inversion while the nanobubbles that was adsorbed on the particles' surface will cover a share of the charge, which decreases the electrostatic repulsive force between the particles; and second, the nanobubbles can act as a bridge between the surfaces of the two particles, which advances the agglomeration between the particles. This review aims to be able to further advance the research related to the industrialization of nanobubbles.

Effect of micro-bubble size and dynamic characteristics on oil removal efficiency of the flotation

The size and dynamic characteristics of micro-bubbles play a crucial role in determining flotation efficiency. However, the detailed study of micro-bubbles in jet flotation remains limited. This study established a high-speed camera system capable of capturing and analyzing the flow behavior of jet flotation bubbles, micro-bubble sizes, bubble size distribution, and dynamic characteristics. The particle diameter and oil concentration were measured using Marvin and Ultraviolet spectroscopy, respectively. Subsequently, the study discussed the oil removal efficiency of the jet flotation system. The results revealed that the flow field of jet flotation could be categorized into three distinct regions: shear crushing region, collision adhesion region, and expansion foam region. Moreover, it was observed that the average bubble diameter (Dab) decreased as the gas mass flow, circulating liquid mass flow, and liquid depth increased, with gas mass flow being the primary influencing factor. Concurrently, high gas mass flow contributed to an increased density of small-scale bubbles. The velocity at which the bubbles rose was found to be influenced by the liquid depth, gas mass flow, circulating liquid mass flow, and the bubble's location. At an oil concentration of 300 mg/L (average diameter of Sauter in oil droplets is 4.787 μm), the jet flotation process in this study achieves an oil removal efficiency of over 80 %. Interestingly, in high gas mass flow conditions, jet flotation exhibited notable oil removal efficiency, even with a relatively low residence time. This study provides valuable empirical evidence to support the optimization of flotation systems.

Anisotropic adsorption of xanthate species on molybdenite faces and edges and its implication on the flotation of molybdenite fines

Utilizing xanthate in bulk flotation of Cu-Mo sulfide ores is inevitable, but the implication of xanthate on the flotation of molybdenite fines is barely understood. In this study, the influence of sodium butyl xanthate (SIBX) on the flotation of molybdenite fines and the interaction mechanism was comprehensively investigated by micro-flotation tests, contact angle, adsorption capacity, electrochemical tests, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometer (FTIR), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Micro-flotation tests indicated that SIBX significantly enhanced the flotation of molybdenite fines across a wide pH range. Contact angle, adsorption capacity, Tafel curves, AFM, FTIR and XPS results suggested both xanthate and dixanthogen species adsorbed on molybdenite surfaces, thus improving the hydrophobicity of both edges and faces. Rest potential measurements clarified dixanthogen species dominated on faces while xanthate ions prevailed on edges. DFT calculations elucidated dixanthogen physically adsorbed (−66.06 kJ/mol) on faces while xanthate chemisorbed (−235.62 kJ/mol) on edges via the hybridization of two S atoms within SIBX with two Mo atoms to form highly covalent bonds. This work first clearly unveiled the anisotropic adsorption mechanism of SIBX species on faces and edges, significantly improving the flotation efficiency of molybdenite fines.

Physical simulation study on flow field characteristics of molten steel during argon blowing in shroud of tundish

In the current study, water models are used to study the effect of the flow control devices, the casting velocity, gas flow rate and gas inlet position in the shroud on the flotation of inclusions and molten steel transfer behaviour at the tundish. Microbubbles were generated by using a ladle shroud. The results show that the inclusion flotation efficiency decreases and the dead volume fraction increases as the casting velocity becomes faster. Meanwhile, with the installation of the flow control devices, the residence time of molten steel becomes longer and the inclusion flotation efficiency is getting higher. Bubble adhesion plays an important role in removing inclusions. Smaller bubbles are favourable for inclusion flotation. As the flow rate of gas becomes larger and the gas inlet position installs a topper in the shroud, the bubbles become small. In this experiment, the flotation rate of inclusions in the tundish can be improved to 95.28% by changing the blowing parameters.

Flotation efficiency and surface adsorption mechanism on chalcopyrite and pyrite by a novel cardanol derivative 3-pentadecylphenyl 4-(3,3-diethylthiouredo-4-oxobutanoate)

The process for selective separation of chalcopyrite, a widely used copper mineral, is a major challenge for the mineral processing industry due to its natural occurrence of various sulphide minerals and its complex surface chemistry. This research focused on novel collector chemistry to improve the efficiency and selectivity of chalcopyrite flotation. A novel collector, namely, 3-pentadecylphenyl 4-(3,3-diethylthiouredo-4-oxobutanoate) (DP089), consisting of acylthiourea group was synthesized using cardanol as starting material, to selectively separate chalcopyrite from pyrite. The performance of DP089 in froth flotation and its adsorption mechanism on chalcopyrite and pyrite are investigated in laboratory experiments such as flotation and adsorption tests, as well as analyses using UV spectroscopy, FTIR spectroscopy and contact angle measurements. Comparing the performance of DP089 with the conventional collector potassium amyl xanthate (PAX), it is clear that DP089 exhibits stronger collecting ability and remarkable selectivity for chalcopyrite over pyrite. This could be due to the ability of DP089 to selectively attach to chalcopyrite surfaces, making it hydrophobic, while the same effect is not observed on pyrite surfaces due to the weak adsorption of DP089. Experimental data on the binding mechanism show that DP089 chemically adsorbs on the chalcopyrite surface by interacting with copper ions. This leads to the formation of unique structures of C-O-Cu and C-S-Cu.

Enhanced flotation performance and adsorption mechanism on (0 0 2) crystal plane of fine muscovite powder

Muscovite crystal has anisotropy, the flotation performance is determined by the adsorption of collectors on its specific crystal plane. This study focused on the adsorption mechanism of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) used as muscovite collectors on its (002) crystal plane. The flotation experiment showed that SDS has better flotation efficiency than SDBS. The adsorption behavior on the muscovite (002) crystal plane was demonstrated by contact angle, infrared spectrum tests, molecular dynamics simulation and XRD test. The results indicated that SDS had lower adsorption energy with muscovite (002) crystal plane, and was more likely to adsorb on the muscovite (002) crystal plane. What’s more, the reduction degree of the strength of the (002) crystal plane after SDS was lower than that of SDBS. It clearly proves the superiority of SDS on the adsorption of the muscovite (002) crystal plane, and provide a new idea for the muscovite flotation.