Research on new beneficiation process of low-grade magnesite using vertical roller mill

We investigated whether the vertical roller mill can be efficiently used in the beneficiation of low-grade magnesite and whether it can improve upon the separation indices achieved by the ball mill.We conducted experiments involving the reverse flotation and positive flotation of low-grade magnesite to determine the optimum process parameters,and then performed closed-circuit beneficiation experiments using the vertical roller mill and ball mill.The results show that the optimum process parameters for the vertical roller mill are as follows:a grinding fineness of 81.6wt%of particles less than 0.074 mm,a dodecyl amine(DDA)dosage in magnesite reverse flotation of 100 g·t?1,and dosages of Na2CO3,(NaPO3)6,and NaOL in the positive flotation section of 1000,100,and 1000 g·t?1,respectively.Compared with the ball mill,the use of the vertical roller mill in the beneficiation of low-grade magnesite resulted in a 1.28%increase in the concentrate grade of MgO and a 5.88%increase in the recovery of MgO.The results of our causation mechanism analysis show that a higher specific surface area and greater surface roughness are the main reasons for the better flotation performance of particles ground by the vertical roller mill in the beneficiation of lowgrade magnesite.

Synthesis and formation mechanism of micro/nano flower-like MgCO_3·5H_2O

Micro/nano magnesium carbonate pentahydrate（MgCO3 ·5H2 O） with flower-like morphology was synthesized using magnesite as a substrate and potassium dihydrogen phosphate as an additive. The synthesized samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry. The influence of pyrolysis time on crystal morphology was explored. The formation mechanism was investigated on the basis of the characterized results and the crystal structure of MgCO3 ·5H2 O. The results showed that the flower-like MgCO3 ·5H2 O was 1.5-3.0 μm in length and 100-500 nm in diameter and was successfully obtained with a pyrolysis time of 30 min. The formation mechanism of flower-like MgCO3 ·5H2 O is suggested to be the selective adsorption of potassium dihydrogen phosphate on the surface. The process of flower-like crystal growth is as follows： amorphous nanoparticles formation, acicular and rod monocrystal formation, flower-like monocrystal formation, and flower-like polymers（MgCO3 ·5H2 O） crystallization. In the MgCO3 ·5H2 O crystal, the magnesium ion presents two different octahedral coordinations corresponding to2 26 Mg（H O）＋and2 2 2 4 23 [Mg（H O）（CO） ]--, and the chemical formula of the crystal is2 2 6 2 4 23 Mg（H O） Mg（H O）（CO）2.

Magnesium hydroxide whisker modified via in situ copolymerization of n-butyl acrylate and maleic anhydride

Magnesium hydroxide(MH) whiskers were modified via in situ polymerization of n-butyl acrylate and maleic anhydride. Sodium dodecyl sulfonate was used as emulsifier. The modifying effect was evaluated by using contact angle and activation index. The thermal stability,functional groups, structure, morphology, phase composition and surface element valence of MH whiskers were characterized by thermogravimetry-differential scanning calorimetry(TG-DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), X-ray diffraction(XRD), scanning electron microscopy(SEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS). Results reveal that the contact angle and activation index of modified MH whiskers are 105°and 76.5%, the thermal stability shows little change, and the decomposition temperature ranges between 38 and419 ℃. The copolymer of n-butyl acrylate and maleic anhydride absorbed on the surface of MH whiskers leads to the increased diameter and makes the surface of whiskers be rougher. Furthermore, the absorption of element C on the surface of MH whiskers increases, and the diffraction intensity of C 1 s spectra increases; thus, the compatibility of whiskers in the organic phase can be improved significantly. Lastly, the surface molecular model of MH whiskers modified via in situ copolymerization of n-butyl acrylate and maleic anhydride is established.