Flotation and adsorption of quaternary ammonium salts collectors on kaolinite of different particle size

The flotation behaviors of decyltrimethylammonium (103C), dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC), tetradecyltrimethylammonium chloride (TTAC) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) on kaolinite of different particle size fraction were studied. The adsorbed amount and adsorption isotherms of collectors on kaolinite were determined for painstaking investigation into the adsorption of quaternary amines at kaolinite-water interface by ultraviolet spectrophotometer methods. The flotation results show that the flotation recovery of kaolinite of different particle fraction increases with an increase in pH when 103C, DTAC, TTAC and CTAC are used as collectors. As the concentration of collectors increases, the flotation recovery increases. Particle size of kaolinite has a strong effect on flotation. The flotation recovery of fine kaolinite decreases with the carbon chain of quaternary ammonium salts collectors increasing, while coarse kaolinite is on the contrary. The adsorbed amount tests and adsorption isotherms show that adsorbed amount increases when the particle size of kaolinite increases or when the carbon chain length of quaternary ammonium salts increases. Within the range of flotation collector concentration, the longer the hydrocarbon chain, the more probable to be absolutely adsorbed by fine kaolinite particles and then the lower the collector concentration in the bulk, which leds to lower flotation recovery.

Characteristics of dry deposited mineral particles associated with weather conditions in the adjacent sea areas of East China during a cruise in spring 2011

Dry deposited particles, larger than 1.3 μm, were collected under clear, cloudy, and foggy conditions during a cruise, traversing the Yellow Sea and the East China Sea from 23 March to 8 April 2011. In these areas, air masses are influenced by pollution outflows from the Asian continent. The size and elemental composition of dry deposited particles were investigated using a scanning electron microscope. Number-size distributions of these particles were approximately lognormal. Under clear conditions, the mode size was about 5.0 μm, with a mean diameter of 6.9 μm. Under cloudy and foggy conditions, the mean diameters were 5.7 and 6.0 μm, respectively, but the mode sizes were vague. Non-mixed mineral particles, sea salt, and mixed mineral-sea salt particles were the major particle types. Correspondingly, Al and Si were the most frequently detected elements. Frequencies of K-, Ca-, and S-containing particles were highest under foggy conditions, while the frequency of Na-containing particles was lowest. These results indicate that fog favored sulfate production on the particles and led to the deposited mineral particles more abundant in secondary salt, suggesting the importance to consider the dependence of the comoosition of deoosited mineral narticles on weather as well as narticle size.

Investigation on Reaction Interface between the Aluminum and K2ZrF6 by Freezing the Molten Salt Reaction

A reaction interface between the aluminum and K_2ZrF_6 during molten salt reaction process was frozen by quenching the mold in water, and the interface structure was analyzed to determine the formation process of Al_3Zr. Results show that a clear conical interface existed between the K_2ZrF_6 and aluminum. A zirconium accumulation layer with the thickness of about 2–3 lm was formed at the aluminum side of the interface. Many initially formed Al_3Zr particles（with the size of 0.4–16 lm） distributed in this layer, most of which located at the interface. The morphology of Al_3Zr particles is closely related with their size. For the size of 0.4–1 lm, the Al_3Zr appeared as globular and ellipsoid shapes. When it grew to the size of 1–2 and 2–16 lm, it exhibited the rule cube shape, and rule cuboids shape, respectively.