Effects of an ultrasonic field on the flotation selectivity of barite from a barite-fluorite-quartz ore

The influence of an ultrasonic field frequency of 22 kHz and intensity of 0.5 W/cm² has been examined on the flotation of barite, fluorite and quartz as well as on their ability to adsorb dodecyl- and cetylsulphates. The tests affected the flotation of pure minerals in a Hallimond tube as well as the flotation of a natural barite-fluorite ore. It has been found that ultrasonic pretreatment of minerals causes an increase in the flotation rate of barite and a decrease in the flotation rate of fluorite. Ultrasonic pretreatment of the natural barite-fluorite ore before its flotation is the most advantageous. In this case it is possible to obtain concentrates of barite composed of a low amount of CaF₂. This may be explained by the different effects of ultrasonic vibrations on barite and fluorite which cause some improvement of the selectivity of their flotation separation.For a full explanation of these results the effects of ultrasonic pretreatment of the minerals on their adsorption properties and surface topography have been investigated, as well as the direct influence of ultrasound on the adsorption process.     

Influence of adsorbed polysaccharides and polyacrylamides on talc flotation

The adsorption and action of various polymers on talc has been investigated. Two families of polymers (starch-based polysaccharides and synthetic polyacrylamides) with specific molecular weights and functional group chemistry were studied. Adsorption isotherms, acoustophoresis, and contact angle studies enabled polymer adsorption behaviour, adsorbed layer thickness, and the hydrophilicity of the polymer-treated talc surface to be determined. Flotation testing on the treated talc revealed a hierarchy of effectiveness within the group of polymers studied. The observed trends in flotation performance are discussed with reference to the measured polymer layer properties. A 3D correlation plot of adsorbed layer thickness and contact angle against flotation recovery indicates that it may be feasible to predict an order of effectiveness for polymeric depressants based solely on measurements of the adsorbed layer properties, without recourse to flotation testing. This approach would be desirable when screening large numbers of potential depressants.     

Electrokinetic properties and flotation behaviour of apatite and calcite in the presence of sodium oleate and sodium metasilicate

Calcite is generally associated with apatite minerals in phosphate deposits. To explore the possibility of separating these minerals by a soap flotation technique, their electrokinetic properties and flotation behaviour were studied in the presence of sodium oleate.Microelectrophoresis data indicate oleate adsorption on these minerals, and from Hallimond-tube flotation tests it has been noted that in a controlled pH environment and for a certain sodium oleate concentration range, separation of these minerals is possible.The study of apatite/calcite-sodium metasilicate-sodium oleate systems indicates the preferential adsorption of silicate at the calcite surface. This suggests the potential use of sodium metasilicate as the modifying agent for the separation of apatite from calcite by depressing calcite when using sodium oleate as collector.     

Interaction of thionocarbamate and thiourea collectors with sulphide minerals: a flotation and adsorption study

The ability of O-isopropyl-N-ethyl thionocarbamate (IPETC), O-isobutyl-N-ethoxycarbonyl thionocarbamate (IBECTC) and butyl ethoxycarbonyl thiourea (BECTU) collectors to increase the flotation of the sulphide minerals, chalcopyrite, galena and pyrite, has been studied. For each collector, the flotation characteristics of these minerals, flotation rate constant and flotation recovery maximum, have been calculated from the flotation data and compared as a function of pH and collector concentration. Overall, the flotation performance of these collectors is stronger for chalcopyrite than for galena and pyrite. Flotation increases with collector concentration and decreasing pH values. For chalcopyrite, the collector performances of BECTU are slightly better than those of IPETC but far superior to those of IBECTC, especially at high pH values or at low collector concentrations. The flotation performance of these collectors has been shown to be in good agreement with the amount of collector adsorbed at the mineral surface. The affinity of BECTU for the various minerals has been calculated using a multilayer adsorption model.     

Removal of lead minerals from copper industrial flotation concentrates by xanthate flotation in the presence of dextrin

Potato starch and dextrins resulting from thermolysis of potato starch in the absence of reagents and presence of -amino acids are promising depressants for separation of lead and copper minerals present in the Polish industrial copper concentrates. The polysaccharides were used for differential xanthate flotation of the final industrial concentrates produced by flotation with sulfhydryl collectors in the absence of depressants. The polysaccharides depressed galena and provided froth concentrate rich in chalcocite and other copper minerals as well as cell product containing lead minerals. The best results of separation were obtained in the presence of plain dextrin prepared by a thermal degradation of potato starch. The industrial concentrate containing 18.5% Cu and 5.5% Pb was divided into a froth product containing 38.1% Cu with 77% recovery of copper and a cell product assaying 7.3% Pb with 83% recovery of lead. It was accomplished using 2500 g/t of dextrin, 50g/t of potassium ethyl xanthate, and 50 g/t of frother (α-terpineol). The pH of flotation was 8.0–8.2.     

Influence of sodium silicate addition on the adsorption of oleic acid by fluorite,calcite and barite

A study has been made of the adsorption of sodium silicate by calcite, fluorite and barite and the effect that this adsorption has on the flotation of these minerals with oleic acid. The results show that sodium silicate depresses these minerals by preventing oleate species from reacting with surface sites. This effect is independent of the total silica concentration. Aged sodium silicate solutions do not produce markedly different results to those obtained with fresh solutions.The concentration of the sodium silicate solutions was generally such that the total silica concentration was below that in equilibrium with amorphous silica. Under these conditions the solutions contained no polymeric silica species and the mechanism of silica adsorption can be generally attributed to interactions of monosilicate ion and monosilicic acid with surface sites.     

5-alkylsalicylaldoximes as collectors in flotation of sphalerite,smithsonite and dolomite in a Hallimond tube

Flotation tests for sphalerite, smithsonite and dolomite were carried out in a Hallimond tube at various pH values and two concentrations of collector.Adsorption of 5-alkylsalicylaldoximes on the surface of minerals was examined and isotherms for 5-butylsalicylaldoxime plotted.It was shown that sorption intensity of 5-alkylsalicylaldoximes on the surface of minerals decreased in the order: smithsonite, sphalerite and dolomite.Relationship between length of aliphatic chain and collecting activity of 5-alkylsalicylaldoximes was investigated in microflotation tests in a Hallimond tube.5-Propylsalicylaldoxime proved to have the best selectivity in flotation for the range of parameters studied, taking the difference in flotation rates of smithsonite and dolomite as a criterion.It was found that modifications of pH value resulted in changes in both adsorption and flotation.     

铁细菌胞外多聚物对铁矿物的调控形成及其环境意义

环境介质溶液中铁的水解作用和稳定化作用主要受铁细菌及其代谢有机物质的影响。铁细菌普遍存在于自然环境中,可利用低价铁源为自身生长所需能量。铁细菌胞外有机物的主要组分如多糖和蛋白质等可与铁结合,并通过氧化或沉淀作用使铁稳定、沉积而形成铁矿物;此外铁细菌胞外多聚物可催化铁的氧化或促进铁的聚集。这些生物成因铁矿物因具有良好的表面吸附与氧化还原等化学活性,及有效固定环境中的重金属、放射性核素和催化降解有机污染物的良好环境属性,在环境生物矿物材料和环境治理研究领域被日益重视。故本文基于铁细菌及其胞外多聚物对铁矿物矿化形成的重要调控作用,介绍了环境中存在的铁细菌及其生物矿化特征,重点阐述了铁细菌胞外多聚物(组分、结构及特性)及其在铁矿物矿化过程中的作用,同时对铁细菌胞外多聚物及生物成因铁矿物的环境意义进行了概述。     

国内矿物治理重金属废水研究进展与展望

综述了我国利用天然矿物治理重金属废水方面的研究新成果。天然铁的硫化物、天然铁锰的氧化物、方解石与磷灰石等具有良好的表面吸附与氧化还原化学活性;不同介质中它们能不同程度地表现出对Cr^6 、Pb^2 、Hg^2 、Cd^2 等重金属离子的吸附作用,可广泛用于重金属废水处理。矿物吸附重金属离子机理的研究表明,矿物对重金属的吸附是矿物表面与无机重金属离子之间的表面作用过程,包括矿物表面功能基与重金属离子的配位反应、矿物表面氧化还原反应和沉淀转化作用,以及矿物表面离子交换吸附作用等。     

Natural minerals and divided solids: methodology for understanding surface phenomena related to industrial uses and environmental problems

This introductory paper aims at presenting the series of articles in this special issue of Comptes Rendus Geoscience devoted to the study and use of natural minerals. The research methodology that can be applied to the investigation of surface phenomena related to adsorption, exchange and retention onto the surface of natural minerals and divided solids is presented. A special focus is given to the retention of surfactant molecules, in view of their considerable importance in numerous industrial fields, such as, for instance, mineral flotation and enhanced oil recovery. Throughout this introductory paper, the relevance of this research approach to the field of geosciences is stressed by listing various applications where it can provide conclusive answers, especially for environmentally related issues. To cite this article: J.-M. Cases, C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 585–596.     

Low molecular weight polyacrylamide-based polymers as modifiers in phosphate beneficiation

The phosphate industry currently uses several natural polymers such as starch and guar as modifiers to achieve better separation of phosphate from silicates and carbonates. These natural products have many drawbacks: poor selectivity, low performance/dosage ratio, instability and sensitivity to aging, batch variability in composition, and deleterious down-stream effects. Several new, synthetic, low molecular weight polymers have recently been developed as cost-effective alternatives to natural products. These polymers have not only overcome many of the problems associated with natural products, but also have high activity and selectivity.The approach used in designing the synthetic polymers was to incorporate functional groups that would adsorb selectively on the mineral surface thereby rendering it hydrophilic. The phosphate modifier (depressant) developed recently is a low molecular weight polyacrylamide containing both hydroxyl and carboxylic acid functional groups. This polymer has provided excellent selectivity in the separation of apatite from siliceous gangue. The role of this and related polymers in the selective cationic flotation of quartz from apatite is discussed in this paper. The structure-activity relationships have been studied by determining the modifier activity of a range of polyacrylamides containing hydroxyl, carboxyl or carboxymethylol groups.     

Depression of galena by slime gangue in an agitated pulp

The effect of gangue on mineral behaviour in a miniature batch version of an industrial flotation machine was examined. The flotation systems consisted of a sulphide, galena, with a specific collector, potassium ethyl xanthate, and a particular non-sulphide gangue in each case. Three gangue minerals were selected: corundum, fluorite and quartz. Flotation experiments were augmented with spectrophotometric adsorption and zeta potential measurements. Based on this data, the validity and significance of the slime-coating hypothesis in the context of the environment characteristic of industrial flotation processes were assessed.     

Interactive effects of the type of milling media and copper sulphate addition on the flotation performance of sulphide minerals from Merensky ore Part I: Pulp chemistry

It is well known that the chemical environment determines the success of the flotation process, however its characterisation and control is difficult to achieve. This paper, as two parts, Part I and Part II, evaluates the use of various measurements and their interpretation to gain an understanding of the influence of varying parameters such as the type of milling media and copper sulphate addition on the flotation performance of sulphide minerals from a platinum group mineral (PGM) bearing Merensky ore. It shows the complexity of interpretation and the importance of analysing flotation performance holistically. Part I focuses on the pulp chemistry and mineral potential measurements have been used to show the differences in the response of the various mineral electrodes to different conditions. The final flotation recoveries of the sulphide minerals in the ore followed the same trend as the decrease in mineral potential due to collector addition viz. chalcopyrite > pentlandite > pyrrhotite. Type of milling media and copper sulphate addition slightly affected the mineral electrode potential and flotation recovery of chalcopyrite. Addition of copper sulphate increased the recovery of pentlandite and particularly pyrrhotite due to activation by copper (II) ions. The copper activation mechanism was likely to be in the form of initial adsorption of copper hydroxide followed by reduction to Cu⁺ at the surface. However, the changes in flotation performance of the different minerals in the ore could not be completely described by the electrochemical changes, demonstrating the limitations of these measurements. Part II addresses the effect of froth stability as demonstrated by the variations in the mass and water recovery data resulting from the different milling conditions and addition of copper sulphate which emphasised the importance of considering the froth phase in the evaluation of flotation data.     

Rejection of arsenic minerals in sulfide flotation — A literature review

Arsenic is one of the most dangerous inorganic pollutants and thus a penalty element in many base metal concentrates. Arsenic removal in sulphide flotation has been studied extensively with various approaches, including pre-oxidation of flotation pulp, E_h control during flotation and the use of selective depressants/collectors. Pre-oxidation of flotation pulp using oxidizing agents or aeration conditioning represents a simple approach in arsenic removal and was found effective in many cases. Selective flotation of arsenic minerals through E_h control has made significant advances in recent years with promising results achieved. In addition, various depressants and collectors have also been studied in arsenic removal. In this communication, the various approaches used in selective flotation of arsenic minerals are reviewed with emphasis on the development in recent years.     

天然有机质与矿物间的吸附及其环境效应的研究进展

本文综述了天然有机质与矿物间吸附行为的研究进展.具体介绍了天然有机质与矿物间的吸附机理,包括配位交换、范德华力、静电引力、疏水作用、离子交换及阳离子桥;阐述了不同分子大小及亲疏水性组分的天然有机质在矿物上的吸附行为;讨论了影响吸附行为的环境条件（pH,离子强度）及天然有机-矿物体系对全球碳循环、重金属和有机污染物产生的环境效应,并提出了研究展望.     

The electrokinetic properties and flotation behaviour of apatite and calcite in the presence of dodecylamine chloride

Electrokinetic and flotation studies on apatites and calcite show that under certain conditions these minerals are floatable with dodecylamine chloride (DDACl) and the possible mode of DDACl adsorption is due to Coulombic and Van der Waals forces. The results indicate hemi-micelle formation of dodecylamine ions and suggest involvement of neutral molecular amine in the hemi-micelle structure, the critical hemi-micelle concentration being influenced by the nature of charge at the mineral surface.     

Selective flotation of scheelite from calcium minerals with sodium oleate as a collector and phosphates as modifiers. II. The mechanism of the interaction between phosphate modifiers and minerals

The respective effects of phosphate modifiers on the solubility of calcium minerals in water, on the surface charge of the minerals and on the adsorption of the phosphates and of sodium oleate on the mineral surface were examined. The Auger spectra and the infrared spectra of the minerals treated with these reagents were also investigated. The ability of the phosphates to complex metal ions was determined by nephelometric titration. The structures of the minerals and their effects on their floatability, as well as structures of the phosphates and their effects on the complexation power were discussed. A mechanism of depression of the calcium minerals through the selective complexing dissolution of calcium ions from the mineral surface was derived and explains the higher selectivity obtained in scheelite flotation when (NaPO₃)₆ or Na₄P₂O₇ are used as modifiers.     

Co-adsorption of paraffinic gases in the system quartz-dodecyl ammoniumchloride and its effects on froth flotation

When paraffinic gases (ethane, propane or butane) are used as the gas phase in froth flotation systems, the rate of flotation and recovery are generally increased as compared with air. The mechanism of the effect of paraffinic gases in froth flotation was studied and it was shown that they co-adsorb with the collector on the mineral surface. The adsorption of collector and gas on the surface was studied on the system quartz-dodecyl ammoniumchloride (DACl)-propane and ethane. It is shown that the contact angles in this system are significantly larger than when air is the gas, over a wide range of concentrations of DACl.The extent of adsorption of gas on the solid, for low concentrations of DACl, is of approximately 6.5 mols of propane per mol DACl and 7.3 mols of ethane per mol DACl. Increasing the concentration of DACl caused a decrease in the absorbed gas DACl ratio, which reached a value below 1:1 for the highest concentration tested. The co-adsorption of paraffinic gas and interfacial phenomena are interpreted in terms of effective chain length of the surfactant (DACl).     

泥页岩主要黏土矿物组分甲烷吸附实验

为了从深层次揭示控制黏土矿物天然气吸附能力的主要因素, 选择不同来源和成因的泥页岩中的常见黏土矿物进行了甲烷等温吸附实验.分析显示不同类型的黏土矿物气体吸附能力差异明显, 各种黏土矿物甲烷吸附容量次序为蒙脱石＞＞伊蒙混层＞高岭石＞绿泥石＞伊利石＞粉砂岩＞石英岩.黏土矿物结晶结构决定了矿物片层之间的层间孔隙和聚合体颗粒之间粒间孔隙的形态和大小, 从而决定着其表面积和气体吸附性能.黏土矿物甲烷吸附能力与电镜扫描所反映的微孔隙发育程度密切相关.研究表明, 黏土矿物的气体吸附能力不仅与黏土类型有关, 而且明显受成岩演化程度和岩石成因的影响.此外, 随粒度减小孔隙连通性和内表面积的不断增加, 黏土矿物气体吸附能力有所升高.      

Characterisation of sphalerite and pyrite flotation samples by XPS and ToF-SIMS

The surface analytical techniques of X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) and Time of Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectroscopy (ToF-SIMS) have provided information on the type and concentration of species on the surface of sphalerite and pyrite particles in flotation concentrate and tail samples, but also on their distribution on each particle and across particles of different sizes. From this surface analytical study, a more accurate interpretation of the flotation results of sphalerite and pyrite minerals in a mixed mineral system could be made as a function of the concentrations of copper sulphate activator and xanthate collector, and particle size. In particular, it was found that sphalerite particles reporting to the concentrate are larger in size and contain less iron hydroxide on their surface than particles reporting to the tail. As for the pyrite particles, their lower recovery than the sphalerite particles is the result of a larger proportion of iron hydroxide on their surface inhibiting copper and collector adsorption.