Flotation separation of fluorite from calcite by a new depressant curdlan and its mechanism

Abstract

In this study, curdlan was used as an efficient and eco-friendly calcite depressant for flotation of fluorite/calcite. Firstly, the structure and molecular weight of curdlan were characterized. Floatation test results showed that the flotation difference between fluorite and calcite was expanded by curdlan, thus enabling the flotation separation of fluorite/calcite. The selective depression mechanism of calcite by curdlan was investigated. It was found that curdlan was adsorbed by chemical bonding of its hydroxyl group with Ca on the calcite surface, having much greater adsorption capacity for calcite than fluorite, thus selectively depressing calcite. This selective adsorption resulted in the hydrophilic modification of calcite by curdlan in flotation and hindered the hydrophobic modification caused by the subsequent adsorption of sodium oleate. However, sodium oleate could still be adsorbed on its surface due to the weak adsorption of fluorite and curdlan, resulting in hydrophobicity. Therefore, fluorite could be separated from calcite by flotation with curdlan.

Keywords

curdlan / depressant / fluorite / calcite / flotation

References

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