Heterocoagulation mechanism between galena and fine calcite minerals in flotation separation

Abstract

Heterocoagulation between fine particles can interfere with the flotation separation of different minerals. Therefore, the study of particle heterocoagulation is significant. This study found that fine calcite affected galena flotation and examined the interactions between galena and fine calcite particles in suspension pulp. The best flotation behaviour was observed for pure galena minerals at pH 9; however, the flotation separation of galena and fine calcite yielded unsatisfactory results under these conditions. The results of zeta potential measurement, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy indicate that heterocoagulation occurred between the calcite and galena particles at pH 9. The interaction mechanism shows that dissolved hydroxy calcium could be absorbed on the surface of galena and render a positive charge, causing coagulation between the calcite and galena particles due to electrostatic attraction. This new discovery provides a reference for the pre-inhibition of gangue minerals and adjustment of the chemical ratio during the flotation process.

Keywords

flotation / galena mineral / calcite mineral / surface potential / heterocoagulation

References

[1] MarotoC J A, de las NievesF J. Colloidal stability in homo- and hetero-coagulation processes. Comparison between theoretical and experimental data [J]. Progress in Colloid and Polymer Science, 1995, 98: 89-93

[2] SasakiH, MatijeviE, BarouchE. Interactions of a monodispersed hydrous aluminum oxide sol with polystyrene latex [J]. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 1980, 76: 319-329

[3] RalstonJ R, DukhinS S, MisshchukN A. Wetting film stability and flotation kinetics [J]. Advances in Colloid and Interface Science, 2002, 95: 145-236

[4] HuP-F, LiQ, LiangL. A review of characterization techniques of heterocoagulation between mineral particles in mineral separation process [J]. Separation and Purification Technology, 2021, 279: 119699

[5] HeinrichS. Nanobubbles, hydrophobic effect, heterocoagulation and hydrodynamics in flotation[J]. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 2005, 78(1): 11-21

[6] DifeoA, FinchJ A. Sphalerite/silica interactions: model predictions [J]. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 2002, 64(4): 219-227

[7] DifeoA, FinchJ A, XuZ-H. Sphalerite-silica interactions: Effect of pH and calcium ions [J]. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 2001, 61(1): 57-71

[8] HuP-F, LiangL, LiB, et al. . Heterocoagulation between coal and quartz particles studied by the mineral heterocoagulation quantifying system [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2019, 1387-13

[9] PashleyR M, IsraelachviliJ N. DLVO and hydration forces between mica surfaces in Mg²⁺, Ca²⁺, Sr²⁺, and Ba²⁺ chloride solutions [J]. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, 1984, 97: 446-455

[10] ŠkvarlaJ, KmetS. Influence of wettability on the aggregation of fine minerals [J]. International Journal of Mineral Processing, 1991, 32: 111-131

[11] LiQ, LiangL, HuP-F, et al. . Contribution of friction to the heterocoagulation between coal surface and quartz particles studied by the particle vision and measurement (PVM) [J]. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2021, 626: 127078

[12] HuP-F, LiangL. The role of hydrophobic interaction in the heterocoagulation between coal and quartz particles [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2020, 154106421

[13] GatesC F. Sand flotation in Nature [J]. Materials Science, 1926, 64595-596

[14] KOHUMUENCH J, MANKOSA M, YAN E, et al. Advances in coarse particle recovery–fluidised-bed flotation [C]// International mineral processing congress. IMPC 2010.

[15] GranoS. The critical importance of the grinding environment on fine particle recovery in flotation [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2009, 22: 386-394

[16] LiM-Y, XiangY-H, ChenT-J, et al. . Separation of ultra-fine hematite and quartz particles using asynchronous flocculation flotation [J]. Minerals Engineering, 2021, 164: 106817

[17] HuY-H, XuJ, QiuG-Z, et al. . Interparticle electrostatic and van der Waals interactions in fine-grained flotation systems [J]. Nonferrous Mining and Metallurgy, 1994, 10(2): 6-21(in Chinese)

[18] SulpisO, LixC, MucciA, et al. . Calcite dissolution kinetics at the sediment-water interface in natural seawater [J]. Marine Chemistry, 2017, 19570-83

[19] SugamaT, KukackaL E, CarcielloN, et al. . Study of interactions at water-soluble polymer/Ca(OH)₂ or gibbsite interfaces by XPS [J]. Cement and Concrete Research, 1989, 6: 857-867

[20] LuoY-J, XiaY-Q, ZhouH-Y, et al. . Effect of calcium ions on surface properties of chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite and its response to flotation separation under low-alkalinity conditions [J]. Applied Surface Science, 2022, 602154191

[21] HanW-J, ZhuY-M, GeW-C, et al. . Flotation separation of fluorite from calcite by a new depressant curdlan and its mechanism [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2023, 30(3): 800-810

[22] HuangZ-Q, ShuaiS-Y, BurovV E, et al. . Application of a new amidoxime surfactant in flotation separation of scheelite and calcite: Adsorption mechanism and DFT calculation [J]. Journal of Molecular Liquids, 2022, 364120036

[23] LiaoR-P, WenS-M, LiuJ, et al. . Flotation separation of fine smithsonite from calcite using sodium hexametaphosphate as the depressant in the Na₂S-Pb(II) - KIAX system [J]. Separation and Purification Technology, 2022, 295121245

[24] ChenY-L, GuoX-Y, ChenY-F. Using phytic acid as a depressant for the selective flotation separation of smithsonite from calcite [J]. Separation and Purification Technology, 2022, 302122104

[25] YangD, LiB-Q, FengD-X, et al. . Flotation separation of smithsonite from calcite with guar gum as depressant [J]. Colloids and Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects, 2022, 650129562