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Mineral processing methods are generally divided into flotation and magnetic separation. In the flotation process, we often add flotation agents to change the flotation properties of the mineral surface to obtain the target product. Today, this article will introduce to you what flotation agents are commonly used in the flotation process?
According to the different properties of the action, flotation agents can generally be divided into three categories: collectors, frothers and adjusters. Among them, adjusters can be divided into activators, inhibitors and pH adjusters. Flotation agents generally have the following functions: increase or decrease the floatability of mineral particles; enhance the degree of air diffusion in the slurry; increase the stability of foam; improve the properties of the flotation slurry; eliminate ions that harm the flotation process to ensure the smooth progress of the flotation process.
The collector is an organic agent that can react with the surface of the mineral. It can form a hydrophobic film on the surface of the useful mineral, which is conducive to the attachment of mineral particles and bubbles to capture the target minerals from the gangue minerals. In fact, the collector enlarges the difference in wettability between minerals, resulting in an increase in the floatability of minerals that are not easily wetted, and adsorbs on bubbles and rises to the surface of the pulp with the bubbles.
During flotation, foam is the medium for the mineral particles to float. Foam is a collection of many bubbles after air is dispersed in the liquid. The purpose of adding a frother to the flotation pulp is to make the bubbles form a large amount of stable foam as a floating medium for sorting floatable and non-floating minerals. Its working principle is that it can reduce the surface tension of the water-air interface, so that the inhaled air rises through the pulp in the form of bubbles and gathers on the surface of the pulp.
In the flotation process, the role of the adjuster is mainly to change the surface properties of the mineral, improve the selectivity of the flotation process, enhance the efficiency of the collector, and improve the flotation conditions of the pulp. According to the different properties of the agent, the adjuster can be divided into active agents, inhibitors and pH adjusters.
Inhibitors can form a hydrophilic film on the surface of minerals, preventing the collector from interacting with the mineral surface, thereby reducing the floatability of the mineral. Therefore, the role of the inhibitor is to temporarily or permanently inhibit the floating of certain minerals, but not to inhibit the rapid flotation of the target minerals, so it is sometimes called an inhibitor.
The role of the activator is to create a film on the surface of the mineral that promotes the attachment of the collector, improve the floating ability of the mineral; remove the inhibitory film on the surface of the mineral and restore the original floating activity of the mineral.
The medium adjuster mainly adjusts the pH value of the pulp and the activity of other reagents, eliminates the influence of harmful ions, and adjusts the dispersion and agglomeration of the ore mud.
In fact, the selection of flotation reagents should be based on the mineral properties of the beneficiation. No matter which flotation reagent is used in the beneficiation process, its purpose is to float out the target mineral smoothly. Selecting matching flotation reagents according to the specific properties of the mineral can not only save costs, but also improve flotation efficiency.
