Graphite Ore Flotation Reagent

In actual beneficiation operations, in addition to selecting a suitable flotation process, the selection of reagents is also particularly important. By adding chemicals, the hydrophobicity of graphite can be improved to improve the effective separation of graphite and gangue minerals. At present, common graphite ore flotation agents are mainly collectors, foaming agents, and regulators.

1. Collector

Graphite itself has a certain floatability, and graphite concentrate can also be floated without using a collector, but the flotation efficiency is not ideal. Therefore, by properly adding a collector, a thin oil film can be formed on the surface of graphite ore to enhance its hydrophobicity and make it firmly attached to the air bubbles, thereby improving the floatability of graphite and improving the recovery rate of concentrate. Common graphite ore flotation reagents mainly include kerosene, diesel oil, liquid paraffin, heavy oil, and other hydrocarbon oils.

2. Foaming agent

Foaming agents are composed of polar and non-polar groups of molecules, wherein the polar groups are hydrophilic and the non-polar groups are hydrophobic. By adding a foaming agent, the mechanical strength of the bubbles can be increased, and at the same time, the number and size of the bubbles can be controlled, the speed of the floating of the bubbles can be controlled, and the distribution state of the bubbles can be changed. Commonly used foaming agents for graphite ore are pine oil, cresol acid, and camphor oil.

3. Adjuster

The purpose of the modifier is to adjust the action of the collector and the minerals, and suppress or strengthen the hydrophobicity of the minerals. According to their different functions, they can be divided into three types: pH adjuster, inhibitor, and dispersant.

PH adjuster: commonly used lime (CaO), NaCO3, Na(OH)2.

Inhibitors: mainly water glass, sodium carboxymethyl cellulose, EDTA, tartaric acid, citric acid, oxalic acid, etc.

Dispersants: mainly include water glass, sodium hexametaphosphate, sodium polyacrylate, etc.