2304 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
suspension was prepared by mixing 50 mg of –20µm par-
ticles with 50ml of 10–3M KCl solution for measuring the
zeta potential of the particles without any treatment. The
same process was carried out using an electrolyte solution
containing the collectors at a concentration from 10mg/L
to 50mg/L. The measurements were conducted a mini-
mum of three times, and the mean value was considered
for analysis.
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is used
to examine the collectors’ adsorption mechanisms and to
determine the interactions between mineral surfaces and
fatty acid collectors. Practically, 0.2g of each mineral pow-
der was conditioned with the collectors for 45 minutes
with magnetic stirring at a desired pH and collector dosage.
The solid fraction was then filtered, rinsed with distilled
water, and dried overnight at room temperature. The dried
samples were characterized using a Perkin- Elmer Spectrum
2000 spectrometer in the range of 4000–500 cm–1, apply-
ing 35 scans for each sample at a resolution of 4 cm–1.
After confirming the interaction between the studied
collectors and the mineral surfaces, adsorption experiments
were conducted in the aim to quantify the adsorption
amounts of the mineral surfaces. For this purpose, the min-
eral samples were conditioned with increasing concentrated
solutions at a desired pH for 45 minutes. The solid and
liquid of the suspension were separated by centrifugation
(4800 rpm) for 20 minutes. The residual concentration in
the supernatant was determined by the Gregory colorimet-
ric method. The adsorption amount of the FACs onto the
apatite and quartz surfaces is calculated using the following
equation (El-Bahi et al., 2023):
m A
C Crh V
i #
#
x =
-^
where Ci and Cr are respectively the initial and residual
concentrations of the flocculant (mg/L), m is the mineral
amount (g), V the solution volume (L) and A is the specific
surface area of the phosphate tailing sample (m2/g).
Separation Efficiency
Flotation Tests
The performance of the different FACs in separating the
apatite fraction from quartz within the studied phosphated
flint sample was evaluated through natural ore mixture’s
flotation tests. Since the system primarily comprises apa-
tite and quartz, anionic fatty acid collectors were exclu-
sively employed in the flotation reagent system, as quartz
remained unactivated. The studied parameters in the flo-
tation tests are collector dosage, the pulp pH, and the
size fraction of the ore sample. The flotation assays were
performed at ambient temperature using a 500ml cell. As
shown in Figure 2, a 15% pulp was prepared and condi-
tioned for 3 minutes. The collector was added respecting
a specific target dosage and conditioned for 3 minutes at
three different pH levels (6, 9, 12). The resulting concen-
trate (apatite concentrate) and tailing (quartz concentrate)
fractions were filtered, dried, and chemically analyzed
using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and the loss of igni-
tion technique (LOI).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Characterization
Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Pure
Minerals and Phosphate Sample
The studied fluorapatite and quartz samples were charac-
terized aiming to assess their purity. Figure 3 shows the
XRD diffractograms illustrating the purity of these miner-
als. Additionally, XRF analytical findings shown in Table 1
provide confirmation on the purity of the mineral samples
under investigation, as they exhibit a close correspondence
with the data accessible in the web mineral database.
XRF analysis indicated that the flotation feed sample
160–40µm contained respectively 15.63 wt.% P2O5, 43.
81 wt.% SiO2, 0.73 wt.% MgO, and 27.90 wt.% CaO.
To determine the mineralogical composition and mineral
associations within the examined flotation feed sample,
automated quantitative mineralogy analysis was employed.
As depicted in Figure 4, the analyzed phosphated flint sam-
ple consist of 48.39 wt.% apatite and 43.93 wt.% quartz.
The remaining fraction consists of minor percentages of
Figure 2. Flowsheet of flotation tests
suspension was prepared by mixing 50 mg of –20µm par-
ticles with 50ml of 10–3M KCl solution for measuring the
zeta potential of the particles without any treatment. The
same process was carried out using an electrolyte solution
containing the collectors at a concentration from 10mg/L
to 50mg/L. The measurements were conducted a mini-
mum of three times, and the mean value was considered
for analysis.
Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) is used
to examine the collectors’ adsorption mechanisms and to
determine the interactions between mineral surfaces and
fatty acid collectors. Practically, 0.2g of each mineral pow-
der was conditioned with the collectors for 45 minutes
with magnetic stirring at a desired pH and collector dosage.
The solid fraction was then filtered, rinsed with distilled
water, and dried overnight at room temperature. The dried
samples were characterized using a Perkin- Elmer Spectrum
2000 spectrometer in the range of 4000–500 cm–1, apply-
ing 35 scans for each sample at a resolution of 4 cm–1.
After confirming the interaction between the studied
collectors and the mineral surfaces, adsorption experiments
were conducted in the aim to quantify the adsorption
amounts of the mineral surfaces. For this purpose, the min-
eral samples were conditioned with increasing concentrated
solutions at a desired pH for 45 minutes. The solid and
liquid of the suspension were separated by centrifugation
(4800 rpm) for 20 minutes. The residual concentration in
the supernatant was determined by the Gregory colorimet-
ric method. The adsorption amount of the FACs onto the
apatite and quartz surfaces is calculated using the following
equation (El-Bahi et al., 2023):
m A
C Crh V
i #
#
x =
-^
where Ci and Cr are respectively the initial and residual
concentrations of the flocculant (mg/L), m is the mineral
amount (g), V the solution volume (L) and A is the specific
surface area of the phosphate tailing sample (m2/g).
Separation Efficiency
Flotation Tests
The performance of the different FACs in separating the
apatite fraction from quartz within the studied phosphated
flint sample was evaluated through natural ore mixture’s
flotation tests. Since the system primarily comprises apa-
tite and quartz, anionic fatty acid collectors were exclu-
sively employed in the flotation reagent system, as quartz
remained unactivated. The studied parameters in the flo-
tation tests are collector dosage, the pulp pH, and the
size fraction of the ore sample. The flotation assays were
performed at ambient temperature using a 500ml cell. As
shown in Figure 2, a 15% pulp was prepared and condi-
tioned for 3 minutes. The collector was added respecting
a specific target dosage and conditioned for 3 minutes at
three different pH levels (6, 9, 12). The resulting concen-
trate (apatite concentrate) and tailing (quartz concentrate)
fractions were filtered, dried, and chemically analyzed
using X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and the loss of igni-
tion technique (LOI).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Characterization
Chemical and Mineralogical Characterization of Pure
Minerals and Phosphate Sample
The studied fluorapatite and quartz samples were charac-
terized aiming to assess their purity. Figure 3 shows the
XRD diffractograms illustrating the purity of these miner-
als. Additionally, XRF analytical findings shown in Table 1
provide confirmation on the purity of the mineral samples
under investigation, as they exhibit a close correspondence
with the data accessible in the web mineral database.
XRF analysis indicated that the flotation feed sample
160–40µm contained respectively 15.63 wt.% P2O5, 43.
81 wt.% SiO2, 0.73 wt.% MgO, and 27.90 wt.% CaO.
To determine the mineralogical composition and mineral
associations within the examined flotation feed sample,
automated quantitative mineralogy analysis was employed.
As depicted in Figure 4, the analyzed phosphated flint sam-
ple consist of 48.39 wt.% apatite and 43.93 wt.% quartz.
The remaining fraction consists of minor percentages of
Figure 2. Flowsheet of flotation tests