Selective inhibition of acrylic acid-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid copolymer in the flotation separation of fluorite from dolomite

Abstract

The efficient recovery of fluorite is paid more and more attention with the increasing application especially in strategic emerging industries. In this study, acrylic acid-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid copolymer (AA-AMPS) was first used as the depressant in fluorite flotation, and its effect on the flotation separation of fluorite and dolomite in sodium oleate (NaOL) system was investigated. The depression mechanism was analyzed by contact angle measurement, zeta potential test, FTIR and XPS analyses. The micro-flotation test results showed that dolomite can be inhibited in fluorite flotation system in the addition of 2 mg/L AA-AMPS and 20 mg/L NaOL at pH 10. The CaF₂ grade increased from 49.85% in the artificial mixed mineral to 89.60% in the fluorite concentrate. The depression mechanism indicated that AA-AMPS could adsorb strongly on dolomite surface by the chelation with Ca and Mg active sites. Moreover, the further adsorption of NaOL on dolomite surface was prevented by the AA-AMPS adsorption, but that on fluorite surface was little affected, thereby increasing the difference in the hydrophobicity and floatability of the two minerals.

Keywords

fluorite / dolomite / AA-AMPS / flotation separation / selective inhibition

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