ABSTARCT
Wolframite is a series of minerals belonging to the isomorphic (Fe, Mn)WO4 with varied Fe/Mn ratios, for which the floatability changes with its composition. In this work, the effects of composition on floatability were studied using micro flotation, collector adsorption tests, infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that with an increasing Fe/Mn ratio, the flotation recovery of wolframite increased when using benzohydroxamic acid (BHA) as collector, but decreased when sodium oleate (NaOl) was applied. The chemisorption differences of these collectors were observed on the surface of wolframite, i.e., adsorption of BHA is greater at the surface of high-Fe wolframite, while NaOl is more easily adsorbed on high-Mn wolframite. Moreover, XPS analysis indicates that a new ferric product was generated on the surface of wolframite in the presence of BHA. In contrast, a new manganese product was formed after the addition of NaOl. These results demonstrate that Fe is the adsorption site for BHA, while Mn is the site for NaOl.
Acknowledgments
Thanks given to Dr. Chris Plackowsk, who is from the University of Queensland; his review opinions about linguistic improvements have made this paper more comprehensive. We also appreciate the help and comments from the reviewers.