Dolomite-apatite separation by amphoteric collector in presence of bacteria

Abstract

Bioflotation represents one of the growing trends to enhance the selectivity of conventional flotation processes. It utilizes the micro-organisms to replace or to interact with the chemical reagents to increase the gap between surface properties of similar minerals and to enhance the separation selectivity. In this work, dolomite-phosphate separation was investigated using amphoteric collector (dodecyl-N-carboxyethyl-N-hyroxyethyl-imidazoline) in presence of bacteria. Two types of bacteria, Corynebacterium-diphtheriae-intermedius (CDI), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA), were used. The collector-bacteria interaction was characterized by Fourier transform infra-red (FTIR), frothing height and Zeta potential. The results show that the collector-bacteria interaction improves the flotation selectivity. Although, the PA positively affects the separation results, the CDI cannot lower the MgO to less than 1%. A phosphate content of 0.7% MgO and 31.77% P₂O₅ with a recovery of 68% at pH 11, 3.0 kg/t amphoteric collector, 4×10⁷ cells of PA is obtained.

Keywords

dolomite / phosphate / amphoteric collector / bacteria / bio-flotation / carbonate minerals

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