Effect of metal cations on the rutile flotation using styryl phosphoric acid as a collector
Wei Xiao, Jun Wang, Wenqing Qin, Pan Cao, Lang Tao, Guanzhou Qiu
a School of Minerals Processing & Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha 410083,
Hunan, PR China
b Key Lab of Biohydrometallurgy of Ministry of Education, Changsha 410083, Hunan, PR China
ABSTRACT
The effects of metal cations on the rutile flotation using styryl phosphoric acid (SPA) as the
collector were investigated by micro-flotation and bench scale flotation test, zeta-potential
measurements and absorption measurements. The micro-flotation results indicated that Fe (Ⅲ) and
Al (Ⅲ) ions in low concentrations have obvious activation on the rutile flotation, and Pb (Ⅱ) ions in
low concentrations have small activation of rutile, but Fe (Ⅲ), Al (Ⅲ), Pb (Ⅱ), Ca (Ⅱ) and Mg (Ⅱ)
have strong inhibition of rutile flotation in high concentrations. The bench scale flotation results
indicated ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), boracic acid, and sodium hexametaphospate
can decrease the metal ions concentrations, and then increase the recovery of rutile flotation.
Absorption measurements and zeta-potential measurements revealed that Fe (Ⅲ), Al (Ⅲ) and Pb (Ⅱ)
ions were adsorbed on the surface of rutile, and had interaction with SPA. But when these ions
concentration were over the largest absorbing capacity, residual metal ions could occur chemical
reaction with SPA.
Key Words：rutile; flotation; styryl phosphoric acid (SPA); metal cations; EDTA