664 XXXI International Mineral Processing Congress 2024 Proceedings/Washington, DC/Sep 29–Oct 3
alkaline pH conditions (Atesok et al., 1988). These effects
led to the reduced recovery and REO grade in concentrates.
The negative impacts of Na+ and K+ ions in flotation of
minerals is not very well reported. As shown in Figures 6 and
7, higher NaCl and KCl concentrations lead to systematic
decrease in REO recovery and grade. It has been reported
that small ions such as Li+, Na+, and Cl– are considered as
water structure making ions (Hancer et al., 2001). It was
shown that the flotation of soluble salt minerals is reduced
in the presence of monovalent ions because these ions pre-
vent the adsorption of collectors. The presence of Na+ and
K+ ions in the pulp may have a similar effect in the REO
flotation conducted in the current study.
CONCLUSIONS
This study investigates the effect of using saline water and
water with high concentration of dissolved salts on the flo-
tation of rare earth bearing minerals. The results indicated
that both Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions had a significant negative
impact on the selectivity and recovery of RE minerals. This
may be attributed to the strong chemical reaction between
the divalent cations and the collector molecules. The results
also show that monovalent ions such as Na+ and K+ ions
generally have an impact on REO flotation, but notable
effects were observed at higher ionic concentrations in con-
trast to what is reported in the literature.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The financial assistance of the Western Australian School of
Mines, Curtin University is gratefully acknowledged.
REFERENCES
Abaka-Wood, G.B., Addai-Mensah, J., Skinner, W., 2017a.
A study of flotation characteristics of monazite, hema-
tite, and quartz using anionic collectors. Int. J. Miner.
Process. 158, 55–62.
Abaka-Wood, G.B., Addai-Mensah, J., Skinner, W., 2017b.
Selective flotation of rare earth oxides from hematite
and quartz mixtures using oleic acid as a collector, Int.
J. Miner. Process. 169, 60–69.
Atesok, G., Somasundaran, P., Morgan, L.J., 1988.
Adsorption properties of Ca2+ on Na-kaolinite and its
effect on flocculation using polyacrylamides. Colloid
Surf. 32, 127–138.
Castro, S., 2012. Challenges in flotation of Cu–Co sul-
fide ores in sea water. In: Drelich, J. (Ed.), The First
International Symposium on Water in Mineral
Processing. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and
Exploration, Seattle, USA.
Corin, K.C., Reddy, A., Miyen, L., Wiese, J.G., Harris,
P.J., 2011. The effect of ionic strength of plant water
on valuable mineral and gangue recovery in a platinum
bearing ore from the Merensky reef. Miner. Eng. 24
(2), 131–137.
Guerra, H., Tadesse, B., Albijanic, B., Dyer, L., 2023.
Nanofiltration for treatment of Western Australian
bore water for mineral processing operations: A pilot
scale study, J. Process Eng. 52, 103484.
Hancer, M., Celik, M.S., Miller, J.D., 2001. The signifi-
cance of interfacial water structure in soluble salt flota-
tion systems. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 235 (1), 150–161.
Jung, M., Tadesse, B., Dick, C., Logan, A., Dyer, L.,
Albijanic, B., 2022. Influence of monovalent and
divalent cations on monazite flotation. Colloids and
Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects,
129975.
Jung, M., Tadesse, B., Dick, C., Logan, A., Dyer, L.,
Albijanic, B., 2024. Understanding the role of water
quality in separation of rare earth minerals from iron
oxide minerals in a flotation circuit, Miner. Eng. 205,
108461.
Moreno, P.A., Aral, H., Cuevas, J., Monardes, A., Adaro,
M., Norgate, T., &Bruckard, W., 2011. The use of sea-
water as process water at Las Luces copper–molybde-
num beneficiation plant in Taltal (Chile). Miner. Eng.,
24(8), 852–858.
Peng, Y., Seaman, D., 2011. The flotation of slime-fine
fractions of Mt. Keith pentlandite ore in de-ionised
and saline water. Miner. Eng. 24 (5), 479–481.
Qi, G.W., 1993. Use of the QEM, SEM analysis in flota-
tion testwork on a phosphate ore containing monazite.
Int. J. Miner. Process. 37, 89–108.
Ricardo I. Jeldres, Liza Forbes &Luis A. Cisternas., 2016.
Effect of Seawater on Sulfide Ore Flotation: A Review,
Miner. Proc. Ext. Met. Rev., 37:6, 369–384.
Wang, B., &Peng, Y., (2014). The effect of saline water
on mineral flotation – A critical review. Miner. Eng.,
66–68, 13–24.
Wiese, J., Harris, P., Bradshaw, D., 2007. The response of
sulphide and gangue minerals in selected Merensky
ores to increased depressant dosages. Miner. Eng. 20
(10), 986–995.
Zhang, W., Honaker, R.Q., Groppo, J.G., 2017. Flotation
of monazite in the presence of calcite part I: Calcium
ion effects on the adsorption of hydroxamic acid.
Miner. Eng. 100, 40–48.
alkaline pH conditions (Atesok et al., 1988). These effects
led to the reduced recovery and REO grade in concentrates.
The negative impacts of Na+ and K+ ions in flotation of
minerals is not very well reported. As shown in Figures 6 and
7, higher NaCl and KCl concentrations lead to systematic
decrease in REO recovery and grade. It has been reported
that small ions such as Li+, Na+, and Cl– are considered as
water structure making ions (Hancer et al., 2001). It was
shown that the flotation of soluble salt minerals is reduced
in the presence of monovalent ions because these ions pre-
vent the adsorption of collectors. The presence of Na+ and
K+ ions in the pulp may have a similar effect in the REO
flotation conducted in the current study.
CONCLUSIONS
This study investigates the effect of using saline water and
water with high concentration of dissolved salts on the flo-
tation of rare earth bearing minerals. The results indicated
that both Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions had a significant negative
impact on the selectivity and recovery of RE minerals. This
may be attributed to the strong chemical reaction between
the divalent cations and the collector molecules. The results
also show that monovalent ions such as Na+ and K+ ions
generally have an impact on REO flotation, but notable
effects were observed at higher ionic concentrations in con-
trast to what is reported in the literature.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The financial assistance of the Western Australian School of
Mines, Curtin University is gratefully acknowledged.
REFERENCES
Abaka-Wood, G.B., Addai-Mensah, J., Skinner, W., 2017a.
A study of flotation characteristics of monazite, hema-
tite, and quartz using anionic collectors. Int. J. Miner.
Process. 158, 55–62.
Abaka-Wood, G.B., Addai-Mensah, J., Skinner, W., 2017b.
Selective flotation of rare earth oxides from hematite
and quartz mixtures using oleic acid as a collector, Int.
J. Miner. Process. 169, 60–69.
Atesok, G., Somasundaran, P., Morgan, L.J., 1988.
Adsorption properties of Ca2+ on Na-kaolinite and its
effect on flocculation using polyacrylamides. Colloid
Surf. 32, 127–138.
Castro, S., 2012. Challenges in flotation of Cu–Co sul-
fide ores in sea water. In: Drelich, J. (Ed.), The First
International Symposium on Water in Mineral
Processing. Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and
Exploration, Seattle, USA.
Corin, K.C., Reddy, A., Miyen, L., Wiese, J.G., Harris,
P.J., 2011. The effect of ionic strength of plant water
on valuable mineral and gangue recovery in a platinum
bearing ore from the Merensky reef. Miner. Eng. 24
(2), 131–137.
Guerra, H., Tadesse, B., Albijanic, B., Dyer, L., 2023.
Nanofiltration for treatment of Western Australian
bore water for mineral processing operations: A pilot
scale study, J. Process Eng. 52, 103484.
Hancer, M., Celik, M.S., Miller, J.D., 2001. The signifi-
cance of interfacial water structure in soluble salt flota-
tion systems. J. Colloid Interface Sci. 235 (1), 150–161.
Jung, M., Tadesse, B., Dick, C., Logan, A., Dyer, L.,
Albijanic, B., 2022. Influence of monovalent and
divalent cations on monazite flotation. Colloids and
Surfaces A: Physicochemical and Engineering Aspects,
129975.
Jung, M., Tadesse, B., Dick, C., Logan, A., Dyer, L.,
Albijanic, B., 2024. Understanding the role of water
quality in separation of rare earth minerals from iron
oxide minerals in a flotation circuit, Miner. Eng. 205,
108461.
Moreno, P.A., Aral, H., Cuevas, J., Monardes, A., Adaro,
M., Norgate, T., &Bruckard, W., 2011. The use of sea-
water as process water at Las Luces copper–molybde-
num beneficiation plant in Taltal (Chile). Miner. Eng.,
24(8), 852–858.
Peng, Y., Seaman, D., 2011. The flotation of slime-fine
fractions of Mt. Keith pentlandite ore in de-ionised
and saline water. Miner. Eng. 24 (5), 479–481.
Qi, G.W., 1993. Use of the QEM, SEM analysis in flota-
tion testwork on a phosphate ore containing monazite.
Int. J. Miner. Process. 37, 89–108.
Ricardo I. Jeldres, Liza Forbes &Luis A. Cisternas., 2016.
Effect of Seawater on Sulfide Ore Flotation: A Review,
Miner. Proc. Ext. Met. Rev., 37:6, 369–384.
Wang, B., &Peng, Y., (2014). The effect of saline water
on mineral flotation – A critical review. Miner. Eng.,
66–68, 13–24.
Wiese, J., Harris, P., Bradshaw, D., 2007. The response of
sulphide and gangue minerals in selected Merensky
ores to increased depressant dosages. Miner. Eng. 20
(10), 986–995.
Zhang, W., Honaker, R.Q., Groppo, J.G., 2017. Flotation
of monazite in the presence of calcite part I: Calcium
ion effects on the adsorption of hydroxamic acid.
Miner. Eng. 100, 40–48.