Key Takeaways & Executive Findings
- •• AA-AMPS is first introduced as a selective depressant for dolomite in fluorite flotation, achieving a significant increase in CaF2 grade from 49.85% to 89.60% in artificial mixed mineral tests. • The depression mechanism involves strong chelation of AA-AMPS with Ca and Mg active sites on dolomite, preventing subsequent NaOL adsorption and enhancing surface hydrophobicity difference between fluorite and dolomite. • The study provides a novel, eco-friendly organic depressant alternative to traditional inorganic reagents, addressing the need for efficient separation of fluorite from dolomite in low-grade ores. • The findings offer a promising pathway for improving fluorite recovery in strategic emerging industries, with potential for industrial application in mineral processing.
Abstract
The efficient recovery of fluorite is paid more and more attention with the increasing application especially in strategic emerging industries. In this study, acrylic acid-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid copolymer (AA-AMPS) was first used as the depressant in fluorite flotation, and its effect on the flotation separation of fluorite and dolomite in sodium oleate (NaOL) system was investigated. The depression mechanism was analyzed by contact angle measurement, zeta potential test, FTIR and XPS analyses. The micro-flotation test results showed that dolomite can be inhibited in fluorite flotation system in the addition of 2 mg/L AA-AMPS and 20 mg/L NaOL at pH 10. The CaF2 grade increased from 49.85% in the artificial mixed mineral to 89.60% in the fluorite concentrate. The depression mechanism indicated that AA-AMPS could adsorb strongly on dolomite surface by the chelation with Ca and Mg active sites. Moreover, the further adsorption of NaOL on dolomite surface was prevented by the AA-AMPS adsorption, but that on fluorite surface was little affected, thereby increasing the difference in the hydrophobicity and floatability of the two minerals.
1. Introduction
Fluorite (CaF2) is widely used in the field of chemical industry, metallurgy and other industries [1, 2]. Fluorite has been listed as a strategic mineral resource because of its economic importance and non-renewable [3]. With the depletion of high-grade fluorite resource, the exploitation of low-grade refractory fluorite ore has received extensive attention [4].
In deposits, fluorite is usually associated with dolomite, calcite and other gangue minerals [5]. Froth flotation is the main method for extracting and enriching fluorite from other minerals [6, 7]. Sodium oleate (NaOL) with low cost and strong collecting ability is generally used as the collector [8, 9]. However, effective separation of dolomite and fluorite without a depressant is difficult to achieve due to the poor selectivity of NaOL and their similar surface properties [10−12].
Sodium silicate and modified sodium silicate are commonly used as the depressants in fluorite flotation [13 −15]. But these reagents have some disadvantages such as large dosage and poor selectivity, resulting in the decrease of separation efficiency. In recent years, organic inhibitors have attracted much attention in fluorite flotation. It’s reported that soluble starch [16], hydroxypropyl starch [17], caustic cassava starch [11], curdlan [18], detrin [19], sesbania gum [20], Artemisia sphaerocephala Krasch. gum [21], flaxseed gum [22], and psyllium seed gum [23] can be used as the selective depressant for calcium-containing gangue minerals (mostly calcium) in fluorite flotation. Nevertheless, the current research on the efficient dolomite depressant in fluorite flotation is very limited.
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PENG Bin-bin, ZHU Hai-ling, CHEN Jin-shan, YANG Jia-jia (2025). Selective inhibition of acrylic acid-2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid copolymer in the flotation separation of fluorite from dolomite. Journal of Central South University. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11771-025-6097-x
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the main contribution of this study?
The study introduces AA-AMPS as a novel selective depressant for dolomite in fluorite flotation, demonstrating its effectiveness in improving the separation efficiency and CaF2 grade.
How does AA-AMPS selectively inhibit dolomite?
AA-AMPS adsorbs strongly on dolomite surfaces via chelation with Ca and Mg active sites, preventing subsequent NaOL adsorption and enhancing the hydrophobicity difference between fluorite and dolomite.
What are the optimal flotation conditions?
The optimal conditions are 2 mg/L AA-AMPS and 20 mg/L NaOL at pH 10, which increased the CaF2 grade from 49.85% to 89.60% in artificial mixed mineral tests.
Why is this research important?
It addresses the challenge of separating fluorite from dolomite in low-grade ores, providing an eco-friendly organic depressant alternative to traditional inorganic reagents, which is crucial for strategic emerging industries.
What techniques were used to analyze the depression mechanism?
The mechanism was analyzed using contact angle measurement, zeta potential test, FTIR, and XPS analyses.
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