3196 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
where k is the flotation rate constant R∞ is the ultimate
recovery. The two parameters (R∞ and k) for cathode and
anode materials can be determined from a recovery-time
data set using the expression of the classical first-order flo-
tation kinetic model as listed in Eq. 1 (Chen et al., 2021).
R R e 1 =-
3
-kt ^h (2)
where R is the recovery of a component at flotation time t
(min).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Flotation Performance of Anode and Cathode Materials
after Plasma Treatment
Figure 1 presents violin plots of contact angles of electrode
materials and flotation recoveries of anode and cathode
materials without and with plasma treatment. As seen from
Figure 1 (a), the plasma treatment can increase the differ-
ence of contact angle between anode and cathode materials
from 25° (65.67–40.67°) to 51° (87.08–36.09°) from the
mean value of experimental data. In common, the material
with a higher hydrophobicity can produce a higher flota-
tion recovery (Bu et al., 2019 Gao et al., 2023). It is dem-
onstrated that the flotation recoveries of anode materials
with plasma treatment increased from approximately 60%
to approximately 80% with a flotation time of 4 minutes
(Figure 1 (b)). Similar to limited changes of contact angles
of cathode materials with plasma treatment, it is observed
from Figure 1 (b) that the plasma process has no signifi-
cant influence on the flotation recovery of cathode materi-
als. The flotation kinetic parameters of anode and cathode
materials are summarized in Table 1. With the plasma pro-
cess, the km value for anode material is increased from 0.69
to 1.10 min–1. Meanwhile, the plasma treatment slightly
decreases the km value from 0.29 to 0.26 min–1. These flo-
tation kinetic results are consistent with the contact angle
results shown in Figure 1 (a). From the viewpoint of flota-
tion selectivity between anode and cathode materials, the
SI value generated increased significantly from 2.41 to 4.28
under the experimental condition with plasma treatment.
Thus, it is concluded that plasma treatment can promote
the selective flotation of anode from cathode materials.
Figure 1. Violin plots of contact angles of electrode materials without (a) and with (b) plasma treatment, flotation recoveries of
electrode materials without (c) and with (d) plasma treatment
Table 1. Calculated parameters of the Classical First-Order Model
Experimental Condition
k
min–1 R∞ R2
km
min–1 SI
Without plasma Anode 1.08 64.02 0.99 0.69 2.41
Cathode 0.62 45.98 0.99 0.29
With plasma Anode 1.44 75.98 0.98 1.10 4.28
Cathode 0.58 43.89 0.99 0.26
where k is the flotation rate constant R∞ is the ultimate
recovery. The two parameters (R∞ and k) for cathode and
anode materials can be determined from a recovery-time
data set using the expression of the classical first-order flo-
tation kinetic model as listed in Eq. 1 (Chen et al., 2021).
R R e 1 =-
3
-kt ^h (2)
where R is the recovery of a component at flotation time t
(min).
RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS
Flotation Performance of Anode and Cathode Materials
after Plasma Treatment
Figure 1 presents violin plots of contact angles of electrode
materials and flotation recoveries of anode and cathode
materials without and with plasma treatment. As seen from
Figure 1 (a), the plasma treatment can increase the differ-
ence of contact angle between anode and cathode materials
from 25° (65.67–40.67°) to 51° (87.08–36.09°) from the
mean value of experimental data. In common, the material
with a higher hydrophobicity can produce a higher flota-
tion recovery (Bu et al., 2019 Gao et al., 2023). It is dem-
onstrated that the flotation recoveries of anode materials
with plasma treatment increased from approximately 60%
to approximately 80% with a flotation time of 4 minutes
(Figure 1 (b)). Similar to limited changes of contact angles
of cathode materials with plasma treatment, it is observed
from Figure 1 (b) that the plasma process has no signifi-
cant influence on the flotation recovery of cathode materi-
als. The flotation kinetic parameters of anode and cathode
materials are summarized in Table 1. With the plasma pro-
cess, the km value for anode material is increased from 0.69
to 1.10 min–1. Meanwhile, the plasma treatment slightly
decreases the km value from 0.29 to 0.26 min–1. These flo-
tation kinetic results are consistent with the contact angle
results shown in Figure 1 (a). From the viewpoint of flota-
tion selectivity between anode and cathode materials, the
SI value generated increased significantly from 2.41 to 4.28
under the experimental condition with plasma treatment.
Thus, it is concluded that plasma treatment can promote
the selective flotation of anode from cathode materials.
Figure 1. Violin plots of contact angles of electrode materials without (a) and with (b) plasma treatment, flotation recoveries of
electrode materials without (c) and with (d) plasma treatment
Table 1. Calculated parameters of the Classical First-Order Model
Experimental Condition
k
min–1 R∞ R2
km
min–1 SI
Without plasma Anode 1.08 64.02 0.99 0.69 2.41
Cathode 0.62 45.98 0.99 0.29
With plasma Anode 1.44 75.98 0.98 1.10 4.28
Cathode 0.58 43.89 0.99 0.26