Surfactin as an alternative microbial collector to oleate in magnesite-quartz selective flotation

ABSTRACT

The interactions of some microorganisms and microbial metabolites with the mineral surface are still being studied thanks to biotechnological advances. Studies on the usability of such microorganisms and metabolites in flotation are gradually increasing due to their potential to be eco-friendlier and more cost-effective alternatives. The primary goal of this research was to compare the ability of surfactin for magnesite-quartz separation as a collector in selective magnesite bioflotation to the results of classical flotation using oleate. In the experimental study, statistical experimental design methods were used. Mathematical models of the processes were created and also Gaudin selectivity indexes were calculated for both reagents. The feed, which contains approximately 19.70% SiO₂, was cleaned with surfactin through one-stage magnesite flotation, reducing the silicate content to as low as 4.77%. Moreover, the efficiency and selectivity of magnesite flotation are retained by using surfactin even at high collector amounts and relatively low temperatures, unlike oleate.

Novelty statement

The novelty of this study was to determine the surfactin’s applicability in magnesite-quartz separation in selective magnesite bioflotation. Bioflotation studies have shown that magnesite can be selectively floated from an ore containing magnesite and quartz. Considering that the feed contains approximately 19.7% SiO₂, the ore was cleaned four times with surfactin using one-stage magnesite bioflotation, and the silicate content was reduced to as low as 4.77%.

KEYWORDS:

• Selective flotation
• surfactin
• oleate
• magnesite
• bioflotation

Acknowledgements

This study was supported by Eskisehir Osmangazi University Scientific Research Projects Committee (Project No: 2019-2733).

Disclosure statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/01496395.2022.2118612

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Eskişehir Osmangazi Üniversitesi [2019-2733].