Effects of Particle Size and Chain Length on Flotation and Adsorption of Quaternary Ammonium Salts onto Kaolinite

Effects of particle size and chain length on flotation of quaternary ammonium salts (QAS) onto kaolinite have been investigated by mico-flotation tests. The two kinds of quaternary ammonium salts [RN(CH3)3] with different chain lengths, dodecyltrimethylammonium chloride (DTAC) and cetyltrimethylammonium chloride (CTAC) were used as collectors for kaolinite in different particle size fractions (0.075–0.01 mm, 0.045–0.075 mm, 0–0.045 mm). The anomalous flotation behavior of kaolinite have been further explained based on crystal structure considerations by adsorption tests and molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results show that the flotation recovery of kaolinite in all different particle size fractions decreases with an increase in pH when DTAC and CTAC are used as collectors. As the concentration of collectors increases, the flotation recovery increases. The longer the carbon chain of QAS is, the higher the recoveries of coarse kaolinite (0.075–0.01 mm and 0.045–0.075 mm) are. But the flotation recovery of the finest kaolinite (0–0.045 mm) decreases with chain lengths of QAS collectors increasing, which is consistent with the flotation results of unsifted kaolinite (0–0.075 mm). It is explained by the froth stability related to the residual concentration of QAS collector. In lower residual concentration, the froth stability becomes worse. Within the range of flotation collector concentration, it's easy of CTAC to be completely adsorbed by kaolinite in the particle size fraction (0–0.045 mm), which led to lower flotation recovery. Moreover, it is interesting that the particle size of kaolinite is coarser, the flotation recovery is higher. The anomalous flotation behavior of kaolinite is rationalized based on crystal structure considerations. The results of MD simulations show that the (001) kaolinite surface has the strongest interaction with DTAC, compared with the (001), (010) and (110) surfaces. On the other hand, when particle size of kaolinite is altered, the number of basal planes and edge planes is changed. It is observed that the finer kaolinite particles size become, the greater relative surface area of edges is, and the more the number of edges is. It means that fine kaolinite particles have more edges to adsorb less cationic colletors than that of coarse kaolinite particles, which is responsible for the poorer floatability of fine kaolinite.     

内蒙古阿右旗低品位镍矿石可选性试验研究

该试验对低品位镍矿进行了选矿试验研究。结果表明：采用一段磨矿、细度-0．074mm 85％、先反浮选脱泥、脱泥后的尾矿进行粗选,两次粗扫选、三次精选流程;浮选药剂采用碳酸钠、2^#油、CMC、硫酸铜、丁基黄药、J-622;试验指标为：原矿镍品位0．18％、浮选精矿镍品位3．15％、浮选尾矿品位0．11％、反浮选产品镍品位0．19％、精矿镍回收率39．17％。该研究结果为该矿石的可选性评价提供了技术依据。     

A rational interpretation of the role of particle size in flotation

From the examination of data from detailed plant surveys and associated laboratory batch testing, the principal effects of particle size in flotation have been identified. The current state of knowledge concerning the role of this variable is discussed in terms of the evidence presented. It is concluded that the minimum degree of hydrophobicity necessary for the flotation of a particle depends upon its size and as a result, recovery-size curves are a valuable diagnostic aid to the assessment of flotation performance. Entrainment is shown to be an important contributory mechanism to the recovery of fine particles which, when coupled with a low rate of genuine flotation, can account for much of the observed behaviour of such fines. The significance of particle size and its consequences in flotation research, in plant operations and in control schemes has been under-rated. The separate conditioning or flotation or both of separate size fractions seems inevitable as ores become increasingly difficult to concentrate.     

The geology and petrogenesis of a greenstone belt and related nickel sulfide mineralization at Yakabindie,Western Australia

Two major rock sequences, the Lower and Upper Greenstones, separated by an unconformity and associated conglomerate, are exposed in a narrow (5–30 km) elongate (130 km) greenstone belt in the Lawlers—Mt Keith area of the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. The Upper Greenstones, which contain zones of significant nickel sulfide mineralization, appear to have been emplaced in a graben which cuts across folded strata of the Lower Greenstones.Exposed portions of the Lower Greenstones consist of over 90% mafic and less than 10% felsic rocks, whereas the Upper Greenstones consist of approximately one third mafic and two thirds felsic rocks. The mafic rocks of the latter sequence all appear to belong to the komatiitic rock series.⁷ They are divided into two groups of flows and thin sills ranging in composition from peridotite to basalt and a number of strata-bound podiform dunitic bodies which are regarded as feeder chambers for some of the overlying flows. Mafic rocks of the Lower Greenstones include Fe-rich tholeiitic basalts, gabbros, komatiitic⁷ ultramafic rocks and some basalts which appear chemically to be transitional between the two rock series.At Yakabindie in the centre of the Lawlers—Mt Keith belt, Western Australia, the nickel sulfide mineralization occurs mainly within the dunite pods as large (in excess of 70·10⁶ tonnes) low grade (approx. 0.6 wt.% Ni) zones composed largely of disseminated pentlandite. Textures in much of the ore suggest that magmatic sulfides were trapped interstitial to olivine grains, although textures and chemical variations in some of the ore indicate that metals and sulfides have been redistributed during metamorphism or alteration of the host rocks.Chemical variations within the komatiites are consistent with their being the result of low pressure fractional crystallization of a liquid containing in excess of 33 wt. % MgO. In order to produce such a magnesian liquid, it is postulated that the source region of the mantle must have been melted twice, once to give rise to a basaltic liquid and again to give rise to the magnesian, komatiitic liquid. This would require diapiric ascent of mantle material from a depth of perhaps 200–250 km. Consideration of the melting curves of sulfides and mantle periodotite with pressure suggests that sulfides might have become concentrated at these depths, thus accounting for their almost universal association, in Western Australia, with very magnesian komatiites.     

新型捕收剂RA-92在低品位碳酸锰矿选矿中的应用

微细粒低品位锰矿由于颗粒间的非选择性聚集、浮选药剂用量大、浮选效率低等技术难题而致使其利用困难,造成大量浪费。在品位低于13%的锰矿浮选技术研究中,捕收剂最受关注,前人已研究了多种类型的捕收剂,所得精矿品位在16.9%~18.3%之间,回收率为56%~97%,回收率比较理想,但精矿品位总体不高。本文将新型捕收剂RA-92应用于湖南凤凰-花垣地区低品位碳酸锰矿(锰品位为10.7%)的选矿工艺中,实验研究了磨矿细度、pH值、抑制剂和捕收剂用量对浮选效果的影响,在最佳工艺条件下,精矿品位由原矿的10.7%提升至17.4%,回收率达到80.2%。研究表明RA-92对碳酸锰矿具有良好的捕收性能,浮选工艺相对简单且捕收剂用量少,浮选成本较低,可为此种捕获剂在微细粒低品位碳酸盐锰矿选矿中的应用得到推广。     

焦家金矿选厂旋流器溢流产品工艺矿物学分析

焦家金矿选矿厂目前的日处理量达12000吨/天,金回收率92%。选矿厂已将破碎段产品用双螺旋分级机洗矿,洗矿的矿泥产率为7%,矿泥单独浮选,整体工艺初步实现了泥砂分选。为进一步提高选金回收率,流程改造拟将磨矿-浮选系统的旋流器溢流产品二次分级,分级的次生矿泥与洗矿矿泥进入矿泥浮选系统一并浮选,为了掌握旋流器溢流产品的性质,本文采用偏光反光两用显微镜、扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪、红外光谱和差热分析等手段进行研究。研究结果表明矿物种类主要是金属硫化物和脉石矿物,金属硫化物约占4%,脉石约占96%,金属硫化物主要是黄铁矿(70.17%)和黄铜矿(16.27%),脉石主要是石英(47.12%)和长石(15.90%)。黄铁矿和石英是重要的载金矿物,黄铁矿含金65%,石英含金20%。颗粒越细,单体颗粒含量越高,连生体颗粒含量越少;颗粒越细,黄铁矿含量越高,Au、Ag分布率越高,-0.037 mm粒级中黄铁矿含量达到73.58%,Au、Ag占到47.99%和56.60%,金分配率与黄铁矿含量成正相关;粗粒级中未发现金颗粒,中等粒级中次显微金约占30%,细粒级中次显微金约40%,金粒径在2~10μm范围内;金形状有三角形、棱角状、小粒状、不规则状等。红外光谱与差热曲线研究发现颗粒越细矿物成分趋于复杂。研究结论为磨矿分级产生的次生矿泥浮选调控提供了依据,对矿泥浮选的药剂制度调控、浮选流程确定等具有重要实际意义。     

Contrasting komatiite belts,associated Ni–Cu–(PGE) deposit styles and assimilation histories

The Agnew–Wiluna greenstone belt in the Yilgarn Craton of Western Australia is the most nickel-sulfide-endowed komatiite belt in the world. The Agnew–Wiluna greenstone belt contains two mineralised units/horizons that display very different volcanological and geochemical features. The Mt Keith unit comprises >500 m-thick spinifex-free adcumulate-textured lenses, which are flanked by laterally extensive orthocumulate-textured units. Spinifex texture is absent from this unit. Disseminated nickel sulfides, interstitial to former olivine crystals, are concentrated in the lensoidal areas. Massive sulfides are locally present along the base or margins of the lenses or channels. The Cliffs unit is locally >150 m thick and comprises a sequence of differentiated spinifex-textured flow units. The basal unit is the thickest, and contains basal massive nickel-sulfide mineralisation. The Mt Keith and Cliffs units display important common features: (i) MgO contents of 25–30% in inferred parental magmas; and (ii) Al/Ti ratios of ～20 (Munro-type). However, the Mt Keith unit is highly crustally contaminated (e.g. LREE-enriched, high HFSEs), whereas the Cliffs unit does not display evidence of significant crustal assimilation. We argue that the distinct trace-element concentrations and profiles of the two komatiite units reflect their different emplacement style and country rocks: the Mt Keith unit is interpreted to have been emplaced as an intrusive sill into dacitic volcanic units whereas the Cliffs unit was extruded as lava flow onto tholeiitic basalts in a subaqueous environment. The mode of emplacement and nature of country rock is the single biggest factor in controlling mineralisation styles in komatiites. On the other hand, evidence of crustal contamination does not necessarily provide information of the prospectivity of komatiites to host Ni–Cu–(PGE) mineralisation, despite being a good proxy for the style of komatiite emplacement and the nature of country rocks.     

The flotability of very fine particles — A review

The review is in three main sections. First, the observation that overall flotation performance deteriorates for the finest particles is confirmed, but the precise effects of particle size on recovery, grade, and flotation rate are shown to be more complex. In the second section an assessment is made of theories which have been proposed to explain the slower flotation rate of ultrafines, the effects of slime coating, and the flotation of slimes with cationic collectors. The last section of the paper gives a critical evaluation of methods which are claimed to improve the flotation of ultrafine particles.     

Efficient flotation recovery of lead and zinc from refractory lead-zinc ores under low alkaline conditions

In this study, a new flotation approach, a low-alkaline and non-desliming process, was introduced for improving lead and zinc recoveries, lowering production cost and reducing environmental pollution. Lab-scale experiments results show that the new process contributed to the flotation of the complex mixed sulfide-oxide lead and zinc ore regarding two aspects: (1) High alkaline process (pH = 12±) was replaced by low alkaline process (pH = 9±) by using collector WS (a mixture of ethyl thiocarbamate, ammonium dibutyldithiophosphate and dithiophosphate-25) and combined depressant Na₂S/ZnSO₄/Na₂SO₃ for lead sulfide flotation; (2) Non-desliming process was successfully achieved by using collector MA (a mixture of ether amine, hydroxyethyl cellulose and polyacrylic acid) and combined depressant SHP/SS (sodium hexametaphosphate/sodium silicate) for zinc oxide flotation. And 43.37% Pb in the Pb concentrate was recovered, the corresponding Pb grade was 52.73%, total 84.42% Zn was recovered by the flotation of zinc sulfide minerals and zinc oxide minerals. Moreover, the two aspects of the new approach were systematically verified from lab-scale to industrial-scale application. The industrial-scale flotation tests show that Pb recovery in Pb concentrate increased by 1.86% compared with that of original system during industrial-scale tests period, and the Pb recovery increased by 4.09% compared with that of original system before industrial-scale tests period, while the Zn operating recovery in zinc oxide concentrate improved by 19.52%. Moreover, the total reagent cost of the whole new process significantly declined by 3.93 yuan per ton of ore.     

ToF-SIMS-derived hydrophobicity in DTP flotation of chalcopyrite: Contact angle distributions in flotation streams

Particle hydrophobicity has been derived from Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (ToF-SIMS) measurements and its impact on the flotation behaviour of chalcopyrite investigated. Batch flotation tests were performed using a dithiophosphate-type of collector in different concentrations. Three flotation regimes were studied using particle size ranges of 20–38 μm, 75–105 μm and 150–210 μm. The individual particle contact angle, and hence, the distribution of contact angles of chalcopyrite within feed, concentrate and tail flotation samples has been determined using ToF-SIMS secondary ions. The effects of particle size and hydrophobicity on the flotation behaviour have been investigated using this new approach. The hydrodynamic effects of the particle size were highlighted by the different distributions of contact angles obtained for each concentrate size fraction, with fine and coarse sizes requiring higher average contact angles to float. This effect was overtaken by hydrophobicity when a high collector concentration was used. The broad distribution of contact angles observed in all samples, i.e. heterogeneity in hydrophobicity, has significant consequences for interpreting flotation behaviour. The methodology of analysis conducted in this study was applied to real ore and can be used as a quantitative, diagnostic tool for examining surface chemical factors affecting hydrophobicity. This new technique has promise and may advance the understanding of mechanisms, which may lead to better control strategies for improving flotation performance. Furthermore, any mineral–collector system can be targeted, provided appropriate calibration is performed.     

澳大利亚伊尔岗克拉通科马提岩型镍矿成矿作用及找矿方法

澳大利亚西部伊尔岗克拉通卡尔古利地体是世界上太古宙与科马提岩有关的硫化物镍矿床最为集中的地区。该区科马提岩型硫化镍矿床主要有两大类型：①由高品位的块状、海面陨铁状和网状矿石组成,赋存于科马提岩熔岩流（主要为火山橄榄岩）底部,以卡姆巴尔达矿床为代表;②以低品位的浸染状镍硫化物矿石为主,赋存于厚层纯橄榄岩的中部,以芒特基斯为代表。与镍成矿有关的科马提岩形成于晚太古代（2．70Ga）,具铝不亏损（Al2O3／TiO2=15～25）地球化学特征,一般形成于具含硫围岩的动态高岩浆流环境。伊尔岗克拉通科马提岩型镍硫化物矿床形成于经历岩浆作用（结晶、分异和浓集）和地壳硫混染作用的硫不饱和镁铁质-超镁铁质岩浆的熔岩通道或管道中。在矿床成因讨论的基础上,提出该类型矿床的找矿标志和勘查方法。     

金川镍矿尾矿砂中Ni和Cu赋存状态研究

金川镍矿浮选尾矿数量巨大,含有相当可观的有价金属,其中有价金属的回收受到越来越多的关注。金川老尾矿库尾矿砂中Ni和Cu赋存状态复杂,水溶性矿物态、可交换离子态、碳酸盐态、结晶度较差的Fe氧化物态、结晶度较好的Fe氧化物态、硫化物态和残渣态中都含有数量不等的有价金属Ni和Cu;尾矿砂风化作用释放的金属阳离子大多数在发生氧化的硫化物位置原位发生水解沉淀形成次生矿物,有价金属Ni和Cu在尾矿库中没有发生明显的富集。金川镍矿尾矿砂中Ni和Cu适于用化学酸溶浸出的方法进行二次回收。     

Pre-concentration and residual bitumen removal from Athabasca oilsands froth treatment tailings by a Falcon centrifugal concentrator

Both froth flotation and centrifugal concentration were used to pre-concentrate the oil sands froth treatment tailings prior to the recovery of heavy minerals (titanium and zirconium minerals). Over 90% of the heavy minerals were recovered into a bulk flotation concentrate that was about 50% of the feed mass at 85 °C without any reagents. The same recoveries were obtained at 50 °C with the addition of NaOH and/or sodium oleate. However, the flotation concentrate also recovered over 90% of the residual bitumen and much of the clays/slimes. Subsequent treatment of the flotation concentrate such as dewatering and bitumen removal would be difficult due to these residual bitumen and clays. On the other hand, a SB40 centrifugal concentrator recovered over 85% of the heavy minerals but less than 30% of the residual bitumen. With improved liberation the recovery of the residual bitumen into the concentrate could be further reduced. The particle sizes of the SB40 concentrates were also larger than the flotation concentrates, making subsequent processing much easier.     

The effect of particle shape and hydrophobicity in flotation

The effect of particle shape on the flotation process has been investigated in laboratory experiments with monosized spherical ballotini and ground ballotini. The particles were treated by partial methylation with trimethylchlorosilane to achieve varying degrees of hydrophobicity. In flotation, the process of film thinning and liquid drainage is critical in the formation of stable bubble–particle attachments and this is affected by the particle shape and surface hydrophobicity. Flotation tests with different particle sizes were conducted in a modified batch Denver cell. Predictions from a computational fluid dynamic model of the flotation cell that incorporates fundamental aspects of bubble–particle attachment were compared with data from flotation tests. Contact angles of the particles were measured using a capillary rise technique to indicate surface hydrophobicity. Ground ballotini generally has higher flotation rates than spherical ballotini; the results are consistent with effects from faster film thinning and rupture at rough surfaces and are well correlated by the sphericity index.     

Influence of shape characteristics of talc mineral on the column flotation behavior

Column flotation, which is a very effective process in mineral processing especially for easily floatable minerals, is one of the most important new developments to emerge in mineral processing technology in the last years. In this study, the flotation behavior of talc products having different particle shapes produced by different grinding mills (ball and rod mill) was determined by using column flotation process. Shape characteristics of the particles were investigated by the two dimensional measuring technique based on the particle projections obtained from the SEM microphotographs using a COREL Draw 10.0 program. The results showed that particles possessing higher elongation and flatness properties were recovered better during column flotation, whilst roundness and relative width had a negative effect on the flotation behavior of the talc mineral studied. Consequently, as the shape of the particles produced by the mill deviated from the ideal sphere, their floatability was increased.     

The West Jordan deposit,a newly-discovered type 2 dunite-hosted nickel sulphide system in the northern Agnew–Wiluna belt,Western Australia

The West Jordan nickel deposit, in the northern Agnew–Wiluna greenstone belt of Western Australia, is a newly-discovered Type 2 dunite-hosted, low-grade, large tonnage, disseminated sulphide system. Located in the core of a large dunite body, mineralisation is dominated by intercumulus sulphide blebs (20 μm to 6 mm across) in assemblages containing pentlandite, pyrrhotite, heazlewoodite and locally, native nickel, sphalerite and chalcocite. Mineralisation grades between 0.2 and 2 wt.% Ni, with the majority of samples in the 0.35–0.7% Ni range, were consistent with most komatiitic Type 2 systems. Hypogene alteration of the ultramafic host rock is interpreted to have been effected by retrograde metamorphic fluids, and has resulted in extensive serpentinisation and localised, structurally-controlled, talc-magnesite alteration. This gangue alteration has resulted in modification of original magmatic sulphide assemblages, and localised remobilisation of the minor Cu and Zn components of the magmatic sulphides. The deposit is deeply weathered, and all samples utilised in this study were obtained from a series of 12 diamond drill holes which were comprehensively assayed. An igneous stratigraphy is presented which is interpreted to be west-younging, consistent with along-strike deposits to the south, such as the Mount Keith and Yakabindie Type 2 nickel deposits.     

New method and equations for determining attachment tenacity and particle size limit in flotation

A new method and simple, yet accurate, equations for determining the tenacity of particle attachment and the particle size limit in flotation were developed by applying the force analysis of the gravity–capillarity coupling phenomena controlling the bubble–particle stability and detachment. Approximate solutions to the Young–Laplace equation were used to develop simple equations for the tenacity of attachment of particles with diameter up to 20 mm. Simple equations for the maximum size of floatable particles were derived as explicit functions of the particle contact angle, the surface tension, the particle density and the mean centrifugal acceleration of turbulent eddies. For the typical particle size and contact angle encountered in flotation, the analysis showed that the bubble size has little effect on the tenacity of particle attachment. The prediction for the largest size of floatable particles is compared with the experimental data and signifies influence of turbulence on the particle detachment.     

A study on the optimization of the arrangement of flotation circuits

The optimum utilization of available plant capacity has been investigated by simulation of a three-stage flotation circuit. By using simple models of the flotation process a wide variety of cell arrangements has been investigated and the findings tested against a number of operating flotation plants. It is concluded that the efficiency of operation of flotation systems is rather insensitive to circuit arrangement unless the circuit becomes grossly unbalanced. Circuit performance is much more sensitive to the flotation conditions and selectivity in the banks and it is only if a new circuit configuration leads to significantly improved flotation conditions that real improvements are likely. Simulation studies would require detailed modelling of such effects to be useful for circuit optimization studies.     

Beneficiation of sillimanite by column flotation—a pilot scale study

A fully automated semi-commercial flotation column incorporating state of the art instruments was designed to study the amenability of flotation column for the beneficiation of different minerals. In the present study, beneficiation of sillimanite was investigated by installing the flotation column in the flotation circuit of Orissa Sands Complex, Indian Rare Earths Limited, Chatrapur, Orissa. The effect of process parameters on sillimanite grade and recovery was investigated. At optimum conditions, the flotation column was operated continuously with a feed rate of one ton per hour and demonstrated the efficiency of the technology for the beneficiation of sillimanite. The results show that a concentrate assaying 96% sillimanite at 90% recovery can be obtained in a single column flotation stage.     

煤炭开发与利用的环境保护问题

我国1990年烟尘排放量13.24 Mt、SO₂14.95 Mt,其中80%～90%来自燃煤。煤矿每年排放近200 Mt煤矸石,积存量超过1.5 Gt,占地86.71 km2以上。大中型煤矿平均每采1t煤要排4t水,选煤厂每年排放近30 Mt毒性较大的废水。在平原区地下每采万吨煤平均地面陷落面积达2000 m2。这都严重地改变地质环境,影响生产和人类生活。美国近年提出环境质量标准,发放排污许可证及排放量削减使用卡等政策,取得良好效果。煤田勘探时应进行环境地质调查,编制有关图件,查清煤中有毒元素,以供环保规划使用。