Abstract
The effect of sodium chloride and other salt addition on dolomite and apatite flotation has been studied. It was demonstrated that sodium chloride acts as apatite depressant during flotation at acidic pH values with oleic acid, while dolomite flotation is not affected. It was, however, observed that dolomite particles larger than 48 mesh are difficult to float and they tend to remain in the sink fraction. The trends observed during Hallimond cell tests of single and mixed minerals were confirmed with mixtures of minerals and a natural ore at bench scale level. Under more favorable conditions in the bench scale tests, MgO content of the mineral mixtures was reduced from 5% to 1% or less with at least 90% recovery of P2O5 in the sink fraction.
Dr. Brij M. Moudgil - University of Florida