Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Effect of Clay Slime on the Froth Stability and Flotation Performance of Bastnaesite with Different Particle Sizes

  • MINERAL PROCESSING OF NONFERROUS METALS
  • Published:
Russian Journal of Non-Ferrous Metals Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

To investigate the effect of kaolin particles on the flotation performance and froth stability of different particle sizes of bastnaesite, batch flotation tests and froth stability experiments were performed. The results demonstrated that poor froth stability of the coarse particle size bastnaesite led to poor flotation recovery. The medium particle size led to appropriate froth stability and also improved the recovery of bastnaesite. The fine particle size yielded an excessively stable froth, yet did not increase the adherence of bastnaesite particles to the bubbles, but it may have increased the entrainment of kaolin. A longer flotation time may have contributed to improving the recovery of the fine size fraction bastnaesite due to its greater flotation rate. Yet, it had little impact on the recovery of the coarse-grained bastnaesite. In addition, a low proportion (20%) of kaolin improved the recovery and flotation rate of the coarse size fraction bastnaesite. In general, however, the presence of kaolin was detrimental to the flotation performance of bastnaesite. Moreover, the presence of kaolin increased the froth stability of the bastnaesite and resulted in more hydrophilic kaolin particles being entrained into the concentrate products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 3.
Fig. 4.
Fig. 5.
Fig. 6.

Similar content being viewed by others

REFERENCES

  1. Zhou, F., Wang, L.X., Xu, Z.H., Liu, Q.X., Deng, M.J., and Chi, R., Application of reactive oily bubbles to bastnaesite flotation, Miner. Eng., 2014, vol. 64, pp. 139–145.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Zhang, X., Du, H., Wang, X.M., and Miller, J.D., Surface chemistry aspects of bastnaesite flotation with octyl hydroxamate, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2014, vol. 133, pp. 29–38.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  3. Zhang, H.J., Liu, J.T., Cao, Y.J., and Wang, Y.T., Effects of particle size on lignite reverse flotation kinetics in the presence of sodium chloride, Powder Technol., 2013, vol. 246, pp. 658–663.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Zhang, C.C., Zhou, J.H.Pan., Xia, C.Liu., and Tang, S.S., Cao, The response of diasporic-bauxite flotation to particle size based on flotation kinetic study and neural network simulation, Powder Technol., 2017, vol. 318, pp. 272–281.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Liang, L., Li, Z.Y., Peng, Y.L., Tan, J.K., and Xie, G.Y., Influence of coal particles on froth stability and flotation performance, Miner. Eng., 2015, vol. 81, pp. 96–102.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Amelunxen, P., Sandoval, G., Barriga, D., and Amelunxen, R., The implications of the froth recovery at the laboratory scale, Miner. Eng., 2014, vols. 66–68, pp. 54–61.

  7. Cilek, E.C. and Karaca, S., Effect of nanoparticles on froth stability and bubble size distribution in flotation, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2015, vol. 138, pp. 6–14.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Shi, F.N. and Zheng, X.F., The rheology of flotation froths, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2003, vol. 69, pp. 115–128.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Gorain, B.K., Harris, M.C., Franzidis, J.-P., and Manlapig, E.V., The effect of froth residence time on the kinetics of flotation, Miner. Eng., 1998, vol. 11, pp. 627–638.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  10. Farrokhpay, S. and Zanin, M., An investigation into the effect of water quality on froth stability, Adv. Powder Technol., 2012, vol. 23, pp. 493–497.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. McFadzean, B., Marozva, T., and Wiese, J., Flotation frother mixtures: Decoupling the sub-processes of froth stability, froth recovery and entrainment, Miner. Eng., 2016, vol. 85, pp. 72–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Ara, S., Phenomena in the froth phase of flotation—A review, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2012, vols. 102–103, pp. 1–12.

  13. Cruz, N., Peng, Y., Wightman, E., and Xu, N., The interaction of clay minerals with gypsum and its effects on copper-gold flotation, Miner. Eng., 2015, vol. 77, pp. 121–130.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Peng, Y. and Zhao, S., The effect of surface oxidation of copper sulfide minerals on clay slime coating in flotation, Miner. Eng., 2011, vol. 24, pp. 1687–1693.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Wang, Y., Peng, Y., Nicholson, T., and Lauten, R.A., The different effects of bentonite and kaolin on copper flotation, Miner. Eng., 2015, vol. 114, pp. 48–52.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Zhang, M. and Peng, Y., Effect of clay minerals on pulp rheology and the flotation of copper and gold minerals, Miner. Eng., 2015, vol. 70, pp. 8–13.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Wang, B. and Peng, Y., The behaviour of mineral matter in fine coal flotation using saline water, Fuel, 2013, vol. 109, pp. 309–315.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  18. Arnold, B.J. and Aplan, F.F., The effect of clay slimes on coal flotation. Part I: The nature of the clay, Int. J. Miner. Process., 1986, vol. 17, pp. 225–242.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  19. Forbes, E., Davey, K.J., and Smith, L., Decoupling rheology and slime coatings effect on the natural floatability of chalcopyrite in a clay-rich flotation pulp, Miner. Eng., 2014, vol. 56, pp. 136–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. Farrokhpay, S., Ndlovu, B., and Bradshaw, D., Behaviour of swelling clays versus non-swelling clays in flotation, Miner. Eng., 2016, vols. 96–97, pp. 59–66.

  21. Barbian, N., Hadler, K., Ventura-Medina, E., and Cilliers, J.J., The froth stability column: linking froth stability and flotation performance, Miner. Eng., 2005, vol. 18, pp. 317–324.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Ozdemir, O., Specific ion effect of chloride salts on collectorless flotation of coal, Miner. Process., 2013, vol. 49, pp. 511–524.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Farrokhpay, S., Ndlovu, B., and Bradshaw, D., Behaviour of swelling clays versus non-swelling clays in flotation, Miner. Eng., 2016, vols. 96–97, pp. 59–66.

  24. Zhang, N.N., Zhou, C.C., Liu, C., Pan, J.H., Tang, M.C., Cao, S.S., Ouyang, C.H., and Peng, C.B., Effects of particle size on flotation parameters in the separation of diaspore and kaolinite, Powder Technol., 2017, vol. 317, pp. 253–263.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  25. Aktas, Z., Cilliers, J.J., and Banford, A.W., Dynamic froth stability: Particle size, airflow rate and conditioning time effects, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2008, vol. 87, pp. 65–71.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Ni, C., Bu, X., Xia, W., Peng, Y., and Xie, G., Improving lignite flotation performance by enhancing the froth properties using polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2016, vol. 155, pp. 99–105.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Feng, D. and Aldrich, C., Effect of particle size on flotation performance of complex sulphide ores, Miner. Eng., 1999, vol. 12, pp. 721–731.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Schulze, H.J., New theoretical and experimental investigations on stability of bubble/particle aggregates in flotation: A theory on the upper particle size of floatability, Int. J. Miner. Process., 1977, vol. 4, pp. 241–259.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  29. Xu, D., Ametov, I, and Grano, S.R., Quantifying rheological and fine particle attachment contributions to coarse particle recovery in flotation, Miner. Eng., 2012, vol. 39, pp. 89–98.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  30. Ni, C., Bu, X., Xia, W., Peng, Y., and Xie, G., Effect of slimes on the flotation recovery and kinetics of coal particles, Fuel, 2018, vol. 220, pp. 159–166.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  31. Zanin, M., Wightman, E., Grano, S.R., and Franzidis, J.-P., Quantifying contributions to froth stability in porphyry copper plants, Int. J. Miner. Process., 2009, vol. 91, pp. 19–27.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Lima, N.P., Pinto, T.C.D.S., Tavares, A.C., and Sweet, J., The entrainment effect on the performance of iron ore reverse flotation, Miner. Eng., 2016, vols. 96–97, pp. 53–58.

  33. Leistner, T., Peuker, U.A., and Rudolph, M., How gangue particle size can affect the recovery of ultrafine and fine particles during froth flotation, Miner. Eng., 2017, vol. 109, pp. 1–9.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  34. Gibson, B., Wonyen, D.G., and Chelgani, S.C., A review of pretreatment of diasporic bauxite ores by flotation separation, Miner. Eng., 2017, vol. 114, pp. 64–73.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Wang, L., Peng, Y., and Runge, K., Entrainment in froth flotation: The degree of entrainment and its contributing factors, Powder Technol., 2016, vol. 288, pp. 202–211.

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge the financial support provided by Sichuan Key Technologies R&D Program of China (no. 15ZC1801) and High-end Leader Talent Cultivation Special Funded Project of Guangdong Academy of Sciences (no. 2017GDASCX-0301).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Complex Non-ferrous Metal Resources Clean Utilization, Kunming University of Science and Technology, 650093, Kunming, Yunnan, China

    J. Ran, X. Qiu, Z. Hu, Q. Liu, B. Song & Y. Yao

  2. Guangdong Institute of Resources Comprehensive Utilization, State Key Laboratory of Rare Metals Separation and Comprehensive Utilization, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Development and Comprehensive Utilization of Mineral Resource, 510650, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China

    J. Ran, X. Qiu, Z. Hu, Q. Liu, B. Song & Y. Yao

Authors
  1. J. Ran
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. X. Qiu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Z. Hu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Q. Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. B. Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Y. Yao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to X. Qiu.

Additional information

The article is published in the original.

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Ran, J., Qiu, X., Hu, Z. et al. Effect of Clay Slime on the Froth Stability and Flotation Performance of Bastnaesite with Different Particle Sizes. Russ. J. Non-ferrous Metals 60, 107–117 (2019). https://doi.org/10.3103/S1067821219020111

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.3103/S1067821219020111

Keywords:

Search

Navigation