Impact of gypsum on flotation of scheelite and fluorite using sodium oleate as collector

ABSTRACT

In this study, effect of calcium and gypsum on scheelite and fluorite was investigated using sodium oleate as collector. Micro-flotation and contact angle results showed that the adsorption of calcium could inhibit the hydrophobicity of scheelite and fluorite. Moreover, sulfate could enhance the inhibition. FT-IR results showed that calcium could be priori precipitated into calcium oleate and adsorb on mineral surface. The adsorption of calcium could increase the scheelite potential to IEP, while it showed limited effect on fluorite potential. However, the interaction of calcium on scheelite and fluorite in gypsum solution was more complex than that in calcium solution.

KEYWORDS:

• Scheelite
• fluorite
• gypsum
• calcium ion
• sulfate ion

Article highlights

1. Calcium ion could adsorb on scheelite and fluorite surface and reduce their hydrophobicity.

2. Complex affection of sulfate ion on oleate and calcium ion adsorption was found.

3. Opposite change law of scheelite and fluorite zeta potential was obtained in gypsum solution.

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the Advanced Analysis & Computation Center of China University of Mining & Technology for the analytical instruments supports.

Additional information

Funding

The authors would like to thank the financial support of this work by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Project No. U1704252 and Project No. 51574240).