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Mineral processing reagents play a vital role in modern mineral processing. This article will explore in depth the basic principles of mineral processing reagents, key technologies to improve mineral recovery rate, and practical application cases.
Mineral processing reagents refer to chemical substances used in the flotation and separation of minerals. They are mainly divided into collectors, frothers, depressants, regulators, etc. Collectors are used to change the hydrophobicity of mineral surfaces, frothers help minerals suspend in foam, depressants are used to prevent certain minerals from floating, and regulators are used to adjust the pH value and ion concentration of ore pulp.
Mineral processing reagents separate specific mineral particles from slurry by changing the surface characteristics of minerals. Collectors have hydrophilic groups and hydrophobic groups. The former are attached to the surface of minerals, while the latter form bubbles when in contact with air. During flotation, mineral particles attach to bubbles to form mineralized foam, which can be separated from the pulp.
The effect of mineral processing agents is affected by many factors, including the pH value of the pulp, the concentration of the agent, the particle size of the mineral and the temperature of the pulp. The rational use of mineral processing agents requires comprehensive consideration of these factors and the optimal conditions are determined through experiments.
Anionic collectors
Anionic collectors such as xanthates are often used to treat oxidized minerals. They are relatively stable in alkaline media and are suitable for flotation of copper, lead, zinc and other minerals.
Cationic collectors
Cationic collectors are usually amine compounds, suitable for treating silicate minerals. In the flotation of lithium ore, the use of cationic collectors can effectively remove silicate impurities.
Frothers such as pine oil can stabilize mineralized foam and increase mineral recovery. Regulators such as lime and sulfuric acid can optimize flotation conditions by adjusting the pH value of the pulp.
In the mineral processing process, the concentration of reagents and the treatment time are two key parameters. The appropriate use of reagents can not only save costs, but also improve the mineral recovery rate. Insufficient treatment time may lead to incomplete mineral flotation, while too long a time will increase the consumption of reagents.
Temperature, pH value of the pulp and mineral particle size are the main environmental conditions that affect the effect of mineral processing reagents. High temperature can increase the chemical reaction rate, but may cause the reagent to decompose; the appropriate pH value can optimize the chemical properties of the mineral surface; too fine a particle size may lead to excessive consumption of reagents.
