Fluorite is an important non-metallic mineral resource, widely used in metallurgy, building materials, chemical industry and other fields. In the process of use, fluorite ore needs to undergo flotation treatment to separate effective minerals and non-minerals through flotation, so as to obtain high-quality products.
Fluorite belongs to the easy-floating minerals. In the mineral processing, flotation is an important method mainly used for fluorite mineral processing. Among them, the key technical parameters that can affect fluorite flotation include fluorite pulp pH, fluorite pulp temperature, fluorite flotation particle size, fluorite pulp water hardness, and fluorite flotation reagents. In this article, we will start from these aspects and discuss the impact of these parameters on fluorite flotation.
Fluorite flotation particle size
The particle size of fluorite flotation affects the monomer dissociation degree and flotation index of fluorite and gangue minerals. Generally, the process of stage grinding and stage separation is adopted to ensure the concentrate grade and recovery rate. Due to the high quality requirements of fluorite concentrate, the requirements for fluorite flotation particle size are relatively strict, too coarse and too fine particle size will affect the fluorite flotation operation.
For the fluorite ore whose gangue mineral is mainly quartz, it should be properly coarsely ground in the rough selection operation to reduce the loss of fluorite ore in the tailings caused by over-grinding; while in the selection and silicon reduction operation, fine grinding is required to make the vein Stone minerals and fluorspar are fully dissociated from each other to improve the quality of concentrate products.
Fluorite flotation agent
Fluorite flotation agents include collectors and inhibitors, which mainly affect the separation effect of fluorite and gangue minerals. Generally, fatty acid collectors such as oleic acid and oxidized paraffin soap are used to collect fluorite. Oleic acid collectors can obtain the advantages of wide sources and low price, but their selectivity, solubility and dispersibility are not as good as other agents, and their frost resistance poor. In addition, oleic acid modified products are prone to delamination after being placed for a long time, and there is also the problem of easy decomposition.
The inhibitors used in fluorite flotation mainly include inorganic inhibitors and organic inhibitors, which are mainly used to inhibit gangue minerals such as calcite, barite, and quartz. Inorganic inhibitors mainly include water glass, sodium hexametaphosphate, etc.; organic inhibitors mainly include baking glue, lignosulfonate, etc.
Water glass is an effective inhibitor commonly used in fluorite flotation. In order to improve the selective inhibition performance of water glass, water glass can be used in combination with high-priced metal ion salts, or acid water glass can be used with sulfuric acid in a certain proportion. All these measures can increase the adsorption selectivity of water glass and significantly improve the flotation efficiency. According to different types of fluorite mines, combined or new reagents can also be used for flotation separation.
The temperature of fluorite slurry
Slurry temperature is one of the key parameters affecting the solubility and dispersion of collectors, which is related to the use of chemicals. Generally, warm water flotation is used, and the water temperature is preferably 20-35°C to fully exert the performance of the collector. In this temperature range, the solubility of oleic acid agents increases with the increase of temperature, the dispersibility is improved, and the effect of collectors is better. Therefore, in actual production and application, it is necessary to adjust the temperature of the pulp according to the specific situation in order to achieve the best flotation effect.
At the same time, the slurry temperature will also affect the monomer dissociation degree and flotation index of fluorite and gangue minerals, so it is necessary to comprehensively consider the characteristics of fluorite and gangue minerals to determine the appropriate temperature range.
In addition, in the fluorite flotation process, the influence of other parameters also need to be considered, such as fluorite flotation particle size, fluorite flotation agent, fluorite pulp pH and fluorite pulp water quality, etc. Considering these parameters comprehensively can optimize the fluorite flotation process and improve the grade and recovery rate of the concentrate.
Fluorite pulp pH
The pH value of fluorite pulp is one of the key technical parameters affecting fluorite flotation, which mainly affects the floatability and selectivity of fluorite and gangue minerals. Sodium carbonate or sulfuric acid is generally used as a regulator to adjust the pH value between 8-11 to improve the flotation effect of fluorite. Attention should be paid when adjusting the pH value of fluorite pulp, too low or too high pH value will have adverse effects on the flotation effect.
For the sodium carbonate regulator, when the pH value is too low, the reduction reaction of sodium carbonate is prone to occur, thereby affecting the flotation effect; when the pH value is too high, it will cause sodium ions to be hydrolyzed to form sodium hydroxide, making the flotation liquid alkaline The buoyancy of minerals decreases. Therefore, in actual production and application, it is necessary to adjust the amount of regulator and control the pH value of the pulp to achieve the ideal flotation effect.
Fluorite slurry water quality
Calcium ions and magnesium ions may exist in the water quality of fluorite pulp, and these two ions may affect the effect of collectors and inhibitors. In order to reduce the interference of magnesium ions and calcium ions in water on fluorite flotation, hard water should not be used in the flotation process.
In the fluorite flotation process, parameters such as water temperature, pH value, and fluorite flotation particle size also need to be coordinated with each other. Comprehensive consideration of these parameters can optimize the flotation process and improve the grade and recovery rate of the concentrate.
In conclusion
This paper introduces the key technical parameters affecting fluorite flotation, including fluorite flotation particle size, fluorite flotation agent, temperature of fluorite pulp, pH of fluorite pulp and water quality of fluorite pulp.
Different parameters will have different effects on fluorite flotation. Fluorite flotation reagents include collectors and inhibitors, which mainly affect the separation effect of fluorite and gangue minerals. The temperature and pH of the fluorite slurry will also affect the flotation effect of fluorite, and it is necessary to adjust the regulator to achieve the desired effect.
In general, mineral processing needs to consider these parameters comprehensively to optimize the fluorite flotation process and improve the concentrate grade and recovery rate.