Selective Flotation Between Rhodochrosite And Calcite

Several prolems would be encoutered in rhodochrosite flotation, i.e. poor selectivity of collector, lacking effective depressant and similar nature between useful minerals and gangue makes it is difficulty separate valuable metal from gang.Pure mineral and artificial mixed mineral flotation experiment, flotation solution chemisty calculation, zeta potential test, SEM-EDAX test and adsorption capacity test were used to investigagte the effect of flotation reagent on rhodochrosite and calcite flotation,and the influence of metal ions on rhodochrosite flotation.The paper is aimed to provide theoretical guideline to solve the problems encountered in rhodochrosite flotation. The paper content and experiments reuslts were as followed:Sodium oleate had strong collection ability on rhodochrosite and calcite but weak selectivity.Sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) had effective depression ability on calcite and weak depression on rhodochrosite in high alkali condition. Ca2+inhibite rhodochrosite severely in common order,Mn2+had smaller influence on flotation;when adding method of chemicals is changed,the effect of Ca2+can be eliminated and the flotation separation of rhodochrosite from calcite will be achieved.In common order,the flotation separation of rhodochrosite from calcite can not be achieved;when adding method of chemicals is changed,the concentrate of44.99%Mn grade (MnCO394.07%),2.37%Ca grade (CaCO35.93%),78.54%Mn recovery and4.85%Ca recovery was achieved with sodium oleate as collector,SHMP as depressant,Na2CO3as pH regulator,pH=ll,and finally,the flotation separation of hodochrosite from calcite will be achieved.The result of flotation solution chemisty calculation,zeta potential test,SEM-EDAX and adsorption capacity showed:Ca2+reacts with Na2CO3to produce CaCO3which absorbs on the rhodochrosite surface.This situation makes the two minerals surface property converge leading SHMP inhibite rhodochrosite so the flotation is difficult to achieved.Giving SHMP first can make a complexation of Ca2+, which avoids the production of CaCO3,creats condition for flotation.Mn2+does not generate MnCO3at pH=11as the form of ions in the solution and is small in quantity,so it has little effect on flotation.