Role of surface roughness in the magnesite flotation and its mechanism--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Zhu, Z., Fu, Y., Yin, W., Sun, H., Chen, K., Tang, Y., & Yang, B. (2022). Role of surface roughness in the magnesite flotation and its mechanism. Particuology, 62, 63-70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2021.06.007

Role of surface roughness in the magnesite flotation and its mechanism

Zhanglei Zhu ^a, Yafeng Fu ^{a b}, Wanzhong Yin ^{a c *}, Haoran Sun ^a, Keqiang Chen ^a, Yuan Tang ^a, Bin Yang ^a *

a School of Resources and Civil Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China
b Ansteel Beijing Research Institute CO., LTD., Beijing 102200, China
c Genetic Mineral Processing Research Center, Northeastern University, Shenyang 110819, China

10.1016/j.partic.2021.06.007

Volume 62, March 2022, Pages 63-70

Received 6 April 2021, Revised 17 June 2021, Accepted 18 June 2021, Available online 7 July 2021, Version of Record 20 September 2021.

E-mail: yinwanzhong@mail.neu.edu.cn; nemoybmaster@outlook.com

Highlights

• Exposure degree of surface-active sites influences the floatability of magnesite particles.

• Rougher magnesite particles exposed more active magnesium sites for NaOL adsorption.

• Rougher magnesite particles that adsorb more NaOL exhibited higher hydrophobicity and floatability.

• Rougher surface benefits the efficient recovery of magnesite particles via flotation.

Abstract

Surface roughness has a significant influence on mineral flotation. The assisting effect of surface roughness on minerals flotation is extensively investigated from its physical properties (e.g., the existing form of asperity and its size), however, the associated effect on mineral flotation based on the differences in surface chemical property caused by surface roughness has been rarely touched. With such a question in mind, in this study, we investigated the flotation recoveries of two batches of magnesite particles with varying degree of surface roughness produced by two different mills, and associated the flotation performances to their surface chemical properties (amount of adsorption sites for the collector) via a series of detections, including Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Spectrometry (SEM-EDS) observations, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis, adsorption capacity tests, and contact angle measurements. Finally, we concluded that rougher magnesite particles could provide more active sites (Mg²⁺) for a larger capacity of sodium oleate (NaOL), thereby improving the hydrophobicity and floatability.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Surface roughness; Active adsorption site; Collector adsorption capacity; Flotation performance

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