Everything You Need To Know About Flotation Reagents
What are Flotation Reagents?
Flotation Reagents refers to the agent that is used in the process of mineral flotation, this process can alter/adjust the flotation behavior of minerals and have a good impact on mineral separation. The use of flotation reagents is currently the most convenient and effective method of controlling the flotation process. The flotation reagents that are commonly used are divided into three types and are namely: flotation frothers, flotation collectors and flotation conditioners.
What are Flotation Frothers?
The primary function of the flotation frothers is to initiate the formation of invariable bubbles and enhance the elasticity of the surface of the bubble. This can also make the bubbles produced by flotation more balanced and not simply deformed. Thus, when exposed to vibration or any other exterior force, bubbles are less probable to burst. Additionally, the strength of the foam is also altered by the pH of the pulp, as well as the absolute salt content, etc. Normally the flotation frothers that are used are mainly methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC), pine oil and more.
What are Flotation Conditioners?
Flotation Conditioners are used to alter the interaction between the mineral and the collector, also adjusting the pH of the slurry as well as promoting or impeding the flotation of the mineral. Flotation conditioners can also be divided into categories, such as, activators, pH modifiers, inhibitors, dispersant etc.
Activators: A type of reagent that is mostly used to improve the flotability of minerals in the flotation process, change the arrangement of the minerals surface, as well as enhancing the impact of the collector. The non-floating minerals can therefore float under the action of the activator. Normally, the activators used for flotation are sulfurous acid, copper sulfate, sulfuric acid and sodium sulfide.
pH Modifiers: This reagent is used to alter the pH value of the flotation slurry, and also for controlling the surface of the mineral as well as the chemical position of the slurry so to achieve conditions that are required for flotation. The pH modifiers that are commonly used include sodium carbonate, sodium hydroxide, lime and sulfuric acid.
Inhibitors: Inhibitors are used to increase hydrophilicity of minerals as well as forming a hydrophilic film on the surface of ore elements in the flotation process. Thus, this prevents the action of the collector on the mineral and decreases the flotation of the mineral. The inhibitors used for flotation are sodium sulfide, sodium cyanide, sodium thioglycolate and sodium silicate.
Dispersant: Refers to reagents that are normally used to inhibit the aggregation of fine-grained minerals and do them in a monomer state in the flotation process. The elements can be simply dampened in the medium while remaining in a scattered state. The dispersants that are commonly used comprise phosphate and sodium silicate.
Furthermore, the dispersant describes the standard of action of numerous flotation reagents in the flotation process. During the process of production, the flotation scheme must be formulated in the chronological order of the minerals. Firstly, one needs to determine which of the minerals should be inhibited or activated, also choose the right kind of a flotation reagent. For instance, the flotation of lead zinc sulfide ore, the lead zinc and sulfur should be separated. In so doing, the flotation reagents are then utilized to change the nature of one of the minerals as well as separating them one by one.
In the process of separating the lead zinc, the zinc-inhibited and lead-collected is then adopted. In addition, the inhibitor that inhibits zinc is then added to the slurry so to float the lead ore. In case of zinc-sulfur separation, lime is used to depress iron sulfide, also to activate sphalerite with copper sulfate which is a kind if activator, as well as to collect sphalerite with xanthate. Moreover, the pH modifiers are utilized to alter the pH of the slurry to conduct flotation.
In conclusion, it is important to pay attention to the preparation of the flotation reagents, they must be in chronological order and the location of the addition should be correct, also the method of dosing of flotation reagent, in that way improving the effectiveness of flotation.
If you aren’t sure about which reagent to use, we at Metsop will be more than happy to help you. We are a Metallurgical testing lab with years of industry experience and are more than willing to help you find the perfect reagent
