Fatty Acid Collectors Research Articles

Atomized Reagent Addition with Synchronized Jet Pre-Mineralization to Enhance the Flotation Process: Study on Atomization Parameters and Mechanisms of Enhancement

The atomized reagent and synchronous jet pre-mineralization technology, as a novel method to enhance the flotation process, increases the solubility of fatty acid collectors in pulp through atomized reagent application and improves the mineralization effect and flotation rate via synchronous jet pre-mineralization technology, thereby laying a theoretical foundation for the flotation of minerals with fatty acid collectors. Systematic studies on the atomization method, atomization particle size, and flotation experiments revealed that, compared with conventional stirring methods, the atomized reagent method increases the solubility of sodium oleate in pulp from 82.5 mg/L to 142.9 mg/L at 288.15 K. The induction time for quartz particles treated with atomized reagents and bubbles is significantly lower than that of the conventional stirring method. Semi-industrial test results of the atomized reagent and synchronous jet pre-mineralization show that, compared to traditional roughing, the TFe grade increased by 0.87 percentage points, iron recovery increased by 3.95 percentage points, and reagent consumption decreased by 7.5 percentage points. Experimental and test results demonstrate that the atomized reagent and synchronous jet pre-mineralization technology can effectively enhance mineralization, accelerate the flotation rate, improve flotation indices, and reduce reagent consumption to a certain extent, providing significant guidance for the efficient recovery of fine-grained minerals.

Study on flotation separation of chlorite and kaolinite by modified fatty acid collector and its mechanism

The modified fatty acid collector α-bromododecanoic acid (α-BDDA) had a significant effect on the separation of chlorite and kaolinite. In this paper, the flotation separation of the independent lithium bearing mineral chlorite (cookeite) from the main gangue mineral kaolinite in clay-type lithium ore was studied. The results showed that when pH was 9, the concentration of CaCl2 was 1.64×10−4 mol/L, and the concentration of α-BDDA was 5.82×10−4 mol/L, the flotation separation effect of chlorite and kaolinite was the best, and the floating difference between them was 91.12 %. The flotation results of artificially mixed ore also proved that α-BDDA could realize the separation of chlorite and kaolinite. Adsorption amount analysis revealed that α-BDDA could adsorb both on chlorite and kaolinite, however, the amount of α-BDDA adsorbed on chlorite was much higher than that on kaolinite. Zeta potential analysis, FT-IR spectra analysis, and XPS analysis confirmed that α-BDDA could produce chemisorption on the surface of chlorite activated by CaCl2. The Al, Mg, Fe and Ca sites on chlorite could reacted with α-BDDA to form new chemical bonds. However, α-BDDA was adsorbed on kaolinite by weak physical adsorption, which was easily de-adsorbed by strong agitating or water washing.

Dodecylphosphonic acid for the separation of spodumene and albite: flotation behavior and adsorption mechanism

Spodumene is an important lithium-bearing mineral, that is associated with albite and difficult to separate because of their similar surface chemical properties. Traditional fatty acid collectors often have issues, such as poor selectivity or weak collector ability, and thus developing efficient spodumene collectors is essential. In this study, the phosphonic acid surfactant dodecylphosphonic acid (DDPA) was first used as a single collector for the flotation separation of spodumene and albite, showing good selectivity and collection performance. Then, separation and adsorption mechanisms were studied using various characterization methods, including diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy, total organic carbon adsorption measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and zeta potential tests. Flotation tests showed that the recovery for spodumene can reach approximately 80% through single-mineral flotation under the following conditions: activation without metal ion, neutral pulp pH of 6.5–7.0, and DDPA dosage of 4 × 10−4 mol/L. By contrast, the recovery of albite was only approximately 10%. The recovery for Li2O in the artificial mixed ore test was 75.03%, and the grade was 6.30%. The separation of spodumene and albite was due to the selective adsorption of DDPA on the surface of spodumene, and more DDPA were adsorbed on the surface of spodumene than on albite under the same conditions. Adsorption mechanism analysis indicated that Al and O on the mineral surface were the active sites for DDPA adsorption. Combined with the species distribution, DDPA existed in various forms in different aqueous environments, indicating that DDPA was mainly adsorbed onto the mineral surface through chemisorption and hydrogen bonding. In summary, DDPA can be used as an effective collector for spodumene.

New insights into selective depression mechanism of Tamarindus indica kernel gum in flotation separation of fluorapatite and calcite

The similar floatability of fluorapatite (FAp) and calcite (Cal) lead to difficulty in their separation using fatty acid collectors alone. To effectively recover FAp from Cal, a biodegradable polysaccharide, called Tamarindus indica kernel gum (TIKG), was introduced as an efficient Cal depressant in this study, and its depression mechanisms were elucidated. Flotation tests suggested that in sodium oleate (NaOl) system, TIKG strongly depressed Cal but hardly affected FAp, significantly widening the difference in their floatability. Infrared spectroscopy (IR), zeta potential, and wettability analyses indicated that TIKG had strong adsorption interaction with Cal, hindered NaOl adsorption on Cal, and significantly weakened the hydrophobicity of Cal, while the opposite effect was observed for FAp. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) proved that intense interactions of TIKG with Ca sites of Cal enhanced its adsorption on Cal rather than FAp. Extended Derjaguin–Landau–Verwey–Overbeek (EDLVO) calculations confirmed that TIKG reduced the hydrophobic attraction between Cal and bubbles and enhanced the electrostatic repulsion between them, thereby weakening Cal adhesion to bubbles and depressing Cal flotation. Consequently, TIKG achieved effective separation of FAp and Cal, in which 90.21% of Cal was efficiently removed in addition to 83.58% of FAp recovered. Based on these findings, TIKG serves as a Cal depressant for the purification of Cal-bearing phosphate ores by flotation.

The selective flotation separation of apatite from dolomite and calcite utilizing a combination of 2-chloro-9-octadecenoic acid collector and sodium pyrophosphate depressant

In apatite flotation, oleic acid is a commonly used fatty acid collector but is limited by its selectivity and solubility. Acknowledging the reactivity of the α-C atom within oleic acid molecular structure, this study introduces a Cl atom at this site, leading to the synthesis of a novel collector, 2-chloro-9-octadecenoic acid (2-Cl-9-ODA). This collector is utilised in the flotation separation of apatite from its associated carbonate gangue minerals, dolomite and calcite. Flotation experiments reveal that the application of 2-Cl-9-ODA collector, in conjunction with sodium pyrophosphate (NaPP) inhibitor, facilitates the effective separation of these three minerals. Analysis on these mineral surface solubilities, augmented by NaPP, illustrates a solubility sequence: calcite surpasses dolomite, which marginally exceeds apatite. Interestingly, this sequence inversely matches the flotation recoveries, suggesting the superior recoveries of apatite over dolomite and significantly over calcite. The inhibition effect of NaPP on dolomite and calcite flotations is inferred to associate closely with the scarcities of the surface Ca2+ ions. Moreover, adsorption quantity and zeta potential experiments indicate that NaPP depressant significantly reduces the adsorption amounts of 2-Cl-9-ODA on dolomite and calcite surfaces, while barely affecting its adsorption on apatite. First-principles calculations show that the Cl atom introduction allows 2-Cl-9-ODA collector to adopt a parallel adsorption configuration on the mineral surfaces, decreasing its collecting abilities. This research offers theoretical underpinnings for the industrial use of 2-Cl-9-ODA collector in apatite flotation and delivers key understandings for the advancement of groundbreaking apatite flotation collectors.

The effect of conditioning pH behaviour on spodumene flotation with fatty acids

ABSTRACT Spodumene - the primary lithium mineral - is often concentrated by flotation with fatty acid collectors. However, producing high-grade concentrates at high recoveries is challenging and a risk for future operations. Poor spodumene selectivity is largely driven by the sensitive properties and poor solubility of fatty acids and requires high-density conditioning for desired flotation performance. This study related pH behaviour and operating parameters during fatty acid conditioning to flotation performance. The best pH characteristics for >85% lithium recovery at >5.25% Li2O were a minimum pH 6.5–6.8, final pH 6.7–7.1, and a pH change rate of 0.07 ΔpH/min. Regression analysis predicted optimizated conditions of initial pH 8.2, 30 W/L power density, 8 min conditioning and 550 g/t collector. Follow-up testing confirmed a higher W/L improved grade, and recovery was maintained when combined with decreased residence time and pH. Better defining these relationships can improve process control n developing industrial spodumene flotation circuits.

Low-temperature collector for smithsonite flotation: Experiments and DFTB+ study

Smithsonite is an important zinc oxide ore that is mainly recovered through flotation. Previous studies have demonstrated that fatty acid collectors, notably oleic acid, are effective in smithsonite flotation. However, the efficiency of oleic acid is substantially affected by temperature changes. Currently, there is a lack of research on low-temperature collectors for smithsonite flotation. This study aims to determine the flotation recoveries of smithsonite utilizing three novel collectors: sodium lauryl fatty acid amide, dodecyl hydroxamic acid, and 2-ethylhexyl phosphate, as well as the traditional collector, oleic acid. These reagents were examined at various temperatures, dosages, and pH levels using microflotation experiments. The findings indicate that all three of the novel collectors are efficient in recovering smithsonite. Notably, 2-ethylhexyl phosphate can achieve relatively high recovery of smithsonite at low temperatures, which sets it apart from oleic acid. Furthermore, density functional based tight binding (and more) (DFTB+) methods were utilized to disclose the adsorption mechanisms of collectors. Additionally, molecular dynamics simulations were adopted to determine why the use of 2-ethylhexyl phosphate and oleic acid as collectors had different effects on the flotation behaviors of smithsonite at different temperatures. Overall, the results significantly contribute to the understanding of smithsonite flotation at low temperatures.

Studying the mechanism of fatty acid collectors interaction with the surface of calcium-containing tungsten minerals

Studying the mechanism of fatty acid collectors interaction with the surface of calcium-containing tungsten minerals

5-Dodecylsalicylaldoxime as a Novel Collector in Cassiterite Flotation: Performance and Mechanism

Hydroxamic acid and fatty acid collectors are commonly used in cassiterite flotation but face issues like poor selectivity, high dosage, and strict requirements on ore composition and grinding fineness. This study investigates the collecting performance of a novel flotation reagent, 5-dodecylsalicylaldoxime (DSA), in cassiterite flotation. DSA exhibits remarkable selectivity, achieving an impressive 82.5% recovery of Sn at a concentration of only 9 × 10−5 mol/L in single mineral flotation tests. Moreover, DSA significantly outperforms benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), enhancing Sn recovery by 33.55% in artificially mixed ore flotation experiments. In the flotation test of a copper–tin polymetallic ore, compared with the BHA flotation effect, the recovery rate of DSA increased by 12.29% when the Sn grade remained basically unchanged. Analyses such as zeta potential, FT-IR, and XPS indicate that DSA’s superior collecting performance stems from its stable adsorption onto cassiterite surfaces through a chelating ring formation, resembling the adsorption mechanism of hydroxamic acid collectors. Furthermore, DSA’s larger cluster size in the solution compared to BHA contributes to its enhanced selectivity and collectability. Overall, DSA emerges as a promising alternative to traditional cassiterite flotation collectors, offering a combination of enhanced selectivity, lower dosage requirements, and robustness in complex ore systems.

Enhancing selective calcite and dolomite flotation in the phosphate ores: Investigation, modeling, and automated mineralogy assessment

This paper presents a comprehensive study on the selective flotation of a multi calcium-bearing minerals ore, focusing on the efficient removal of dolomite and calcite impurities from a carbonaceous sedimentary phosphate ore. Commercial fatty acid (FA) and phosphate ester collectors were investigated in a reverse flotation process, assessing the impact of flotation pH, collector dosage, and type on the selectivity and recovery of calcite and dolomite. The efficiency of FA-based collectors was recognized as they provided higher quality concentrates with reduced carbonated-fluorapatite contents. The response surface methodology was employed to review and model the effects of pH and dosage of each fatty acid collector on flotation performance. Accurate regression models were developed, forming the basis for an optimization study to determine the optimal operating conditions for achieving selective carbonate flotation with high carbonate grade and recovery while minimizing the carbonated-fluorapatite (CFA) content. Automated mineralogical microscopy was conducted on the phosphate ore and the recovered carbonate and phosphate concentrates, confirming the success of flotation while attributing the presence of 12% CFA (≈ 4 % de P2O5) in the carbonate concentrate to mineral associations and fines entrainment.

Reverse flotation separation of calcite/dolomite from hemimorphite based on their surface sulphophile and oxyphile affinity differences

This study attempts to selectively inhibit hemimorphite flotation using sodium sulphide and uncover the mechanisms behind it. With the use of a fatty acid collector, the flotation test results showed that sodium sulphide had a strong inhibition performance on hemimorphite flotation while having no adverse impact on calcite and dolomite flotation, which were consistent with the contact angle measurement results. According to the results of attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and adsorption proportion measurement of sodium oleate, sodium sulphide can inhibit sodium oleate binding on hemimorphite surfaces while having no effect on calcite and dolomite surfaces. The sulphide species exhibited an extremely high binding affinity for the hemimorphite surface but not for the surfaces of the calcium/magnesium-bearing gangue minerals, as demonstrated by the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy measurements. Because of the strong sulphophile affinity of zinc, when the sodium sulphide concentration was sufficiently high, an interface boundary layer of a liquid solution with the remaining sulphide species formed on the hemimorphite surface, preventing sodium oleate from binding on the hemimorphite surfaces and thus selectively inhibiting the hemimorphite flotation.

Selective removal of dolomite from rare earth element‐bearing phosphorite by flotation and leaching and the adsorption mechanism of agents on mineral surfaces

The rare earth elements (REEs)‐bearing phosphorite was a potential REE resource, which contained all REEs except polonium, among them lanthanide, cerium, neodymium, and yttrium were especially enriched. REEs mainly occurred in fluorapatite (Fap) and had a high positive correlation with phosphorus content. By adopting a new green environmental fatty acid collector GJBW and through one roughing and one refining reverse flotation process, all REEs were pre‐enriched. The flotation concentrate was further leached with citric acid (CA), and all REEs were further enriched. The results of X‐ray diffractometer (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) showed that dolomite (Dolo) was removed and Fap was enriched in phosphorite, the selective enrichment of phosphorus and REEs was realized. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation revealed the mechanism of deep purification of REEs and phosphorus in phosphorite by CA at the micro‐scale. The results showed that the number and strength of bonding between CA and Dolo (104) surface were greater than that between CA and Fap (001) surface, and CA was more easily adsorbed on Dolo (104) surface. Under the same conditions, Dolo in phosphorite was more easily leached by CA, while Fap was further enriched. This process provided a theoretical basis for the comprehensive recovery of REEs and phosphorus from phosphorite.

Understanding the role of water quality in separation of rare earth minerals from iron oxide minerals in a flotation circuit

In many mineral processing plants, using saline water has become necessary to improve water efficiency. However, the dissolved ions in the water such as Ca2+ and Mg2+ may have a significant negative impact on the flotation of RE (rare earth) minerals due to the chemical reaction with flotation reagents used in RE flotation. Although some researchers investigated flotation performance of pure rare earth minerals, there is no study investigating the role of water quality in the separation of rare earth minerals from iron oxide minerals in a flotation circuit. This study focused on investigating the effect of divalent cations like Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the flotation of RE minerals using a fatty acid collector and Na2SiO3 depressant. The results showed that the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ decreased the selectivity and recovery of RE minerals due to the formation of insoluble calcium and magnesium carboxylate, leading to the reduced residual collector concentration. Furthermore, the divalent cations acted as a bridge between the oxygen atoms of the adsorbed SiO32− and carboxylate ions, resulting in increased adsorption of fatty acid collector ions and higher recovery of FeO. Rheological measurements also revealed that the presence of Ca2+ and Mg2+ significantly increased the flotation pulp viscosity, which could be attributed to the reduced repulsive forces between particles due to the compression of electrical double layer. This study provides valuable insights into the mechanisms underlying the effects of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on RE mineral flotation.

Optimization of spodumene flotation with a fatty acid collector

An increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries is driving the development of new lithium mineral projects. Spodumene, a major lithium-bearing mineral found in pegmatite deposits, is often recovered by froth flotation. The primary collectors in spodumene flotation are fatty acids which are known for their poor selectivity. Fatty acid collectors tend to recover common gangue minerals in spodumene deposits due to their similar surface properties, making it difficult to produce high-grade concentrates with high lithium recovery. The ionic collector behavior is sensitive to pulp conditions like pH and concentration, but there is a weak understanding of this behavior during conditioning. There is a consensus that the conditioning stage is vital to flotation performance and should be conducted at high pulp-density (∼60% solids) to ensure proper collector adsorption. If not executed properly, rougher flotation suffers, making it challenging to achieve high final concentrate grades and recovery. This study uses a central composite experimental design and linear regression analysis to investigate and model the effects of four parameters of high-density conditioning with fatty acids on the responses of rougher concentrate grade and recovery: initial pulp pH, collector dosage, conditioning time, and power density. The models developed for both responses were determined to be statistically significant in the tested region. Initial pulp pH, collector dosage, and power density were significant terms in both models, while conditioning time was insignificant. Increased power density, ∼31 W/L, was necessary to achieve high rougher concentrate grades but increasing beyond 37 W/L was harmful to recovery. In general, higher collector dosages (>500 g/t) resulted in high recoveries, but initial pH must be adjusted accordingly to maintain concentrate grade. The most robust conditions to achieve > 90% recovery at a concentrate grade > 5.5% Li2O with this material were determined to be 31 W/L energy input and 625 g/t collector at an initial pH of 8.25. The flotation performance in this study is strongly connected to the behavior of fatty acid collectors reported in the literature and the findings provide good insight for operators and researchers aiming to improve spodumene flotation performance with fatty acids.

Research Progress with Scheelite Flotation Reagents: A Review

With the depletion of easily mined and separated wolframite, scheelite has become the primary source of tungsten. Flotation is the primary technique used to enrich scheelite. However, flotation separation of scheelite from calcium-bearing gangue minerals, such as calcite and fluorite, has always been challenging due to their similar surface properties. To date, various flotation reagents and related mechanisms have been proposed for scheelite, which have attracted considerable attention. This paper reviews the scheelite flotation reagents, including collectors and regulators, and introduces recent research progress on the mechanisms for the interactions between the flotation reagents and mineral surfaces. The advantages and limitations of different flotation reagents are discussed. Inorganic or organic inhibitors in combination with fatty acids, chelate collectors, and cationic collectors are commonly used to separate scheelite from calcium-bearing gangue. Flotation differences between the scheelite and calcium-bearing minerals can be explained by variations in the electrical charges and steric hindrance at the mineral surfaces. In the future, fatty acid collectors will be still the main collectors used in scheelite flotation due to their low cost and strong collecting ability, and new collectors with high selectivity (such as metal complex collectors, new chelate collectors, new environmental collectors) will become a new research hotspot in the future due to their good selectivity.

Selective depression by using environment-friendly depressant pectin in apatite and dolomite flotation system

The difficulty of apatite and dolomite to be efficiently separated by froth flotation due to similar physical and chemical properties of both minerals in using fatty acid collectors without any depressants. In this study, pectin was explored as an efficient and environment-friendly depressant in flotation to separate apatite and dolomite. In the micro-flotation experiments, pectin displayed an intense depressing effect in dolomite flotation and slightly affected apatite flotation. Quantum chemical calculation was used to predicated the reactive site of pectin, the results demonstrated that oxygen atoms of COO, OH and COC in pectin display the most negative regions. The Zeta potential results indicated pectin was adsorbed on the dolomite surface selectively and depressed the adsorption of sodium oleate on the dolomite surface due to electrostatic repulsion effect. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum measurements uncovered that the selective separation of pectin was due to OH of pectin molecules. The Raman spectrum demonstrated that weak adsorption of pectin on the apatite surface was due to CO of pectin molecule, while the strong adsorption is regard as COO and COC of pectin for dolomite. XPS results indicated that COO of pectin can chelate with Ca2+ and Mg2+ of dolomite surface and depress dolomite flotation. Hence, pectin was be utilised as an eco-friendly and highly selective depressant.

Applying the surface differences in the sulfophilic and oxyphilic affinities for reverse flotation separation of calcite from smithsonite

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of sodium sulfide (Na2S) as a selective depressant in the reverse flotation of calcite from smithsonite. Additionally, the objective is to gain insights into the underlying mechanism driving this selectivity. The findings of flotation experiments showed that Na2S can strongly depress smithsonite but not depress calcite when a fatty acid collector was used. The presence vs. absence of Na2S produced a significant difference in Gaudin's selectivity index value (1.08 vs. 81.21), showing a significant impact of Na2S in selectively depressing smithsonite during the flotation process. The results of the contact angle measurement provided strong support for the flotation test findings. The results from attenuated total reflectance-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis and NaOL adsorption measurements indicated that Na2S prevented NaOL adsorption on the smithsonite surface but not on the calcite surface. Furthermore, the results from X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and field-emission scanning electron microscopy revealed that the sulfide species dissolved from Na2S exhibited a strong affinity for the smithsonite surface but not for the calcite surface. Based on these findings, a selective depression mechanism was proposed. When the concentration of Na2S is sufficient, the formed ZnS nanoparticles cover the smithsonite with high density, thereby limiting the diffusion of residual sulfide species to the smithsonite surface. Thus, an interfacial boundary layer containing residual sulfide species forms, hindering the adsorption of NaOL on the smithsonite surface. In contrast, the dissolved sulfide species cannot form specific bonds with the calcite surface, thus having no significant effect on the adsorption of NaOL on the calcite surface. In conclusion, the mineral surface differences in the sulfophilic and oxyphilic affinities contribute the high selectivity and strong depression performance of Na2S during the reverse flotation separation of calcite from smithsonite, when using fatty acid as a collector.

Apatite–Calcite Flotation Separation Using Sodium N-Lauroylsarcosinate as a Selective Collector

Froth flotation is a commonly utilized beneficiation technique for effectively separating apatite from other gangue minerals, such as calcite. It is difficult to achieve good separation with fatty acid collectors due to their similar interactions with apatite and calcite. In this work, sodium N-lauroyl sarcosinate (SNLS) was used as the collector for the selective separation of calcite from apatite without a depressant. The experiments revealed that SNLS had a much better selectivity and a stronger affinity with calcite compared to apatite, with little effect on the flotation of apatite observed at a pH of 10. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses were conducted to explain the selective collector process of SNLS. The mechanism experiments demonstrate that SNLS can chemically bond to apatite and calcite minerals to produce Ca-NLS chelates. The active O atoms of the amide and carboxyl groups of SNLS accomplish this. Calcite has a greater Ca-reactivity than apatite, and as a result, the adsorption quantity on the calcite surface is greater than that on the apatite surface. FTIR analyses indicate that SNLS exhibits a greater affinity for the calcite surface than for apatite, a finding that is supported by first-principle density functional theory (DFT) calculations showing a higher adsorption energy of SNLS on the calcite surface. DFT calculations showed that SNLS forms stronger O-Ca bonds on the calcite surface and is less hindered by H2O. This work shows that the surfactant sodium N-lauroylsarcosinate (SNLS) can be an ideal collector for the flotation of phosphate minerals.

A Review of Fatty Acid Collectors: Implications for Spodumene Flotation

Increasing demand for lithium-ion batteries has led to the development of several new lithium mineral projects around the globe. Some major mineral processing challenges these projects face are similarities in gangue and value mineral behaviour and poor selectivity in froth flotation. Unsaturated anionic fatty acids are the primary spodumene flotation collectors, known to be strong collectors with poor solubility and selectivity. Fundamental flotation research consensus is that spodumene flotation is driven by a fatty acid–anion complex adsorbed at cationic aluminum sites. However, many small-scale studies result in poor recoveries, prompting several researchers to investigate cationic activators or mixed anionic/cationic collectors to improve flotation performance. Testwork with real spodumene ore is rare in recent literature, but older publications from several deposits prove that fatty acids can successfully concentrate spodumene. The process generally includes alkaline scrubbing, high-density fatty acid conditioning, and flotation at pH 7.5–8.5 with 500–750 g/t fatty acid collector. The collector speciation behaviour is notably sensitive to pulp conditions around this pH; possibly resulting in unstable flotation circuits and inconsistent results. This paper reviews fatty acid collector properties and the available industrial and fundamental spodumene flotation research. We aim to provide new insight for understanding particle-collector interactions in spodumene flotation and help bridge the gap between fundamental and industrial processes which will be needed to de-risk projects in the growing lithium mineral industry.

The removal of dolomite from collophane using reverse flotation process enhanced by compound collector

To improve the magnesia removal effect of collophane and increase the P2O5 grade of phosphorus concentrate, the fatty acid collector mixed with sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was used as the compound collector in reverse flotation for magnesia removal in acid system. Solution surface tension measurement, Zeta potential test and infrared spectrum analysis were conducted to analyze the intensified effect of compound collector for dolomite removal. The results showed that under the conditions of grinding fineness -0.074 mm accounted for 89.8%, sulfuric acid dosage 12.0 kg/t, phosphoric acid dosage 3.0 kg/t, SDS compound proportion 3%, collector dosage 1.0 kg/t, the P2O5 grade of concentrate is increased from 25.7% to 29.94%. SDS can reduce the surface tension of slurry, which is conducive to the formation and stability of flotation foam. Zeta potential became negative due to the compound collector adsorbed on the mineral surface. Moreover, the -CH2 antisymmetric stretching vibration peak originated from fatty acid and SDS were detected after the interaction of collectors with dolomite. The compound collector was effectively adsorbed on the surface of dolomite, enhancing the magnesium removal effect of collophane.