The role of quebracho and sodium silicate modifiers on the flotation of celestite and calcite with sodium dodecyl sulfonate

Microflotation and electrokinetic studies with pure celestite and calcite minerals were carried out to investigate the effect of quebracho and sodium silicate on the floatability of the minerals with sodium dodecyl sulfonate as collector. The experimental results obtained show quebracho adsorbed on both minerals affecting their floatabilities; sodium silicate selectively adsorbed on calcite in slightly acid solutions (pH 6.5). The results suggest selective separation of the minerals would be favoured by using slightly acid suspensions, collector concentrations in the order of 5x10-4 M and relatively low concentrations of modifiers (2 ppm of quebracho and 10-3 M sodium silicate).

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