A novel cationic collector for silicon removal from collophane using reverse flotation under acidic conditions

We analyzed a novel cationic collector using chemical plant byproducts,such as cetyltrimethylammonium bromide(CTAB)and dibutyl phthalate(DBP).Our aim is to establish a highly effective and economical process for the removal of quartz from collophane.A microflotation test with a 25 mg·L^(−1)collector at pH value of 6-10 demonstrates a considerable difference in the floatability of pure quartz and fluorapatite.Flotation tests for a collophane sample subjected to the first reverse flotation for magnesium removal demonstrates that a rough flotation process(using a 0.4 kg·t−1 new collector at pH=6)results in a collophane concentrate with 29.33wt%P_(2)O_(5)grade and 12.66wt%SiO2 at a 79.69wt%P_(2)O_(5)recovery,providing desirable results.Mechanism studies using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy,zeta potential,and contact angle measurements show that the adsorption capacity of the new collector for quartz is higher than that for fluorapatite.The synergistic effect of DBP increases the difference in hydrophobicity between quartz and fluorapatite.The maximum defoaming rate of the novel cationic collector reaches 142.8 mL·min−1.This is considerably higher than that of a conventional cationic collector.

Effect and mechanism of siderite on reverse flotation of hematite

The effects of siderite on reverse flotation of hematite were investigated using micro flotation, adsorption tests, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The flotation results show that interactions between siderite and quartz are the main reasons that siderite significantly influences the floatability. The interactions are attributed to dissolved siderite species and fine siderite particles. The interaction due to the dissolved species is, however, dominant. Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek（DLVO） theoretical calculations reveal that adhesion on quartz increases when the siderite particle size decreases and that fine particles partly influence quartz floatability. Chemical solution calculations indicate that the dissolved species of siderite might convert the surface of active quartz to CaCO_3 precipitates that can be depressed by starch. The theoretical calculations are in good agreement with the results of adsorption tests and FTIR spectroscopy and explain the reasons why siderite significantly influences reverse flotation of hematite.

Electrostatic concentration of phosphate flotation concentrate

The concentration of phosphate flotation concentrate with P2O5 grade lower than the commercially acceptable phosphate quality was upgraded in the use of tribo-electrostatic technique. The concentration of the flotation concentrate stream was conducted under both triboelectrification and inductive charging mechanism. Mineralogical analysis reveals that the phosphate ore utilized was dominated mainly by fluorapatite, crandallite, wavellite, and with quartz as the major gangue mineral. Flotations concentrate of about 28.87% P2O5 was obtained from the reverse flotation technique, after conditioning the phosphate ore at 80% passing 150 lm under Lilafloat. Constant parameters such as à6 kV charging voltage, 25 kV separating voltage, inlet air, different charger rotary speed and splitter distances were investigated. Commercially accepted grade of 35.50% P2O5 was attained after the second stage of separation with a recovery of 12.26%, another phosphate product of 34.02% P2O5 and 85.19% was also recovered under the same condition. Single stage of separation also shows a significant increase in the grade of the product obtained, with 33.41% P2O5 and 84.07% recovery achievable. The practicability of tribo-electrostatic separation technique for upgrading flotation concentrates resulted in a significant increase in grade for <150 lm product that do not meet the viable grade.