Role of sodium hexametaphosphate in flotation of a nickel ore
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1
Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Mining Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, China
 
2
School of Mineral Processing and Bioengineering, Central South University, Changsha, China
 
 
Publication date: 2016-01-01
 
 
Corresponding author
Bo Feng   

Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, School of Resource and Environment Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzho, 341000 Ganzhou, China
 
 
Physicochem. Probl. Miner. Process. 2016;52(1):170-181
 
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ABSTRACT
In this work, a role of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) in the flotation performance of a nickel ore was studied and mechanism was discussed in detail. The results showed that the presence of lizardite interferes with the flotation performance of pentlandite. The adsorption of SHMP at the lizardite/solution interface and the removal of magnesium ions from lizardite surface overcompensated the positive charge on the lizardite particle, and made its zeta potential negative. The interaction between lizardite and pentlandite changed from attractive to repulsive in the presence of SHMP. Thus, the addition of SHMP made the mixed sample of pentlandite and lizardite more dispersed, and significantly reduced the adverse effect of lizardite on the flotation of pentlandite. However, when the content of lizardite in the mixed ore was increased, the effect of SHMP weakened. Therefore, in flotation of a nickel ore containing a large amount of lizardite (46% w/w), SHMP usage is not suitable at the roughing stage due to the fact that lizardite in the pulp will consume most of the SHMP, and hence the removal of lizardite slimes from pentlandite surface become impossible. Based upon the results, SHMP usage is found to be suitable at the cleaning stage to improve the grade of concentrate.
eISSN:2084-4735
ISSN:1643-1049
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