Adsorption Selectivity of Fatty Acid Collector by Synthetic Magnetite

Selective adsorption of collectors on mineral surface can directly impact the flotation separation performance. Mineral flotation tests indicated that reverse flotation of synthetic magnetite can only bring a 2 to 4 percent increase in the concentrate grade, tailings grade remains high. The amounts of commonly used fatty acid collector, such as sodium oleate, adsorbed onto mineral surface are measured with indirect measurement to investigate adsorption selectivity of fatty acid collectors by synthetic magnetite. Results showed a higher selectivity in collector adsorption for natural magnetite, with 38.25% difference in the average adsorption rate of sodium oleate between the valuable minerals and gangue, but a less selective adsorption of fatty acid collector onto artificial magnetite, with only 1% difference in the average adsorption rate between its valuable and gangue.