Synthesis and characterization of a novel collector for the desulfurization of fine high-sulfur bauxite via reverse flotation

Bauxite is one of the main raw materials in the alumina industry.Fine high-sulfur bauxite flotation desulfurization is a great challenge presently.This study aims to synthesize nanoparticle collectors(NPCs)by emulsion polymerization to improve the abovesaid flotation desulfurization process.The physicochemical properties of high-sulfur bauxite were analyzed,and the experimental conditions for the synthesis of NPCs were optimized.The interaction mechanism between NPCs and pyrite was studied via fundamental analyses including SEM(Scanning Electron Microscope),FT-IR(Fourier Transform Infrared spectoscopy),Zeta-potential,XPS(X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy),and wettability.Under the closed-circuit flotation flowsheet of"one roughing-two cleaning-three scavenging",aluminum concen-trate with a yield of 85.91%and sulfur content of 0.56%were obtained using a common collector.However,with the addition of the novel NPC,aluminum concentrate with a yield of 85.70%and sulfur content of 0.36%could be obtained by a simpler flowsheet of"one roughing-one cleaning-two scav-enging".The improvement in flotation performance is suggested to be contributed by the addition of spherical NPC,which induced a rougher and more hydrophobic pyrite surface.