Physical chemistry mechanisms of CDR system in sulphide mineral flotation

The flotation tests,zeta potential measurements,and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) analysis on galena,sphalerite,and pyrite were studied in a collecting-depressing-reactivating(CDR) system.In this system,sulphide minerals were first collected and acti-vated by the collector,and then depressed strongly by Ca(OH)2 in a strong alkaline solution.Finally,they were reactivated by H2SO4.The flotation tests of pure minerals showed that in the Ca(OH)2 depressing process sulphide minerals had similar flotation characteristics because they had already been influenced by the collector.Hence,the flotability differences between them were reduced.However,in the H2SO4 re-activating process considerable differences in the flotability between galena and sphalerite/pyrite were produced.That is to say,galena was relatively easy to be reactivated by H2SO4,but sphalerite and pyrite were not reactivated at pH 11.The zeta potentials of sulfide minerals measured by the Zeta Plus presented irreversible characteristics on the change of pH values.The results of the FTIR spectra analysis indi-cated that the collectors already adsorbed on the mineral surface were removed partially by Ca(OH)2.     

Preparation of titanium dioxide from titania-rich slag by molten NaOH method

Preparing titanium dioxide from titania-rich slag(TiO2 73wt%) by molten NaOH method has been developed.The effects of tem-perature and reaction time on the titanium conversion were investigated.The results showed that temperature had significant influence on the titanium conversion as well as the structure of the product.About 92% of titanium in the titania-rich slag could be converted after reacting with NaOH at 500℃ for 1 h.Metatitanic acid was formed through the steps of washing treatment,acid dissolution,and hydrolysis.Well-dispersed spherical titanium dioxide particles with an average size of 0.1-0.4 μm can be obtained by calcination of metatitanic acid.In addition,the content of titanium dioxide in the product is up to 98.6wt%,which can be used as pigments after further treatment of coating and crushing.