Specific Cation Effect on the Flotation of Graphite
Inorganic electrolytes are assumed to significantly impact the flotation performance of graphite resources; however, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this work, the effect of three inorganic salts, including KCl, MgCl<sub>2</sub>, and AlCl<sub>3</sub>, was studie...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2022-08-01
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| Series: | Minerals |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/9/1070 |
| _version_ | 1797484499593854976 |
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| author | Yaxin An Kangkang Sun Yangshuai Qiu Lingyan Zhang |
| author_facet | Yaxin An Kangkang Sun Yangshuai Qiu Lingyan Zhang |
| author_sort | Yaxin An |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Inorganic electrolytes are assumed to significantly impact the flotation performance of graphite resources; however, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this work, the effect of three inorganic salts, including KCl, MgCl<sub>2</sub>, and AlCl<sub>3</sub>, was studied on the flotation of graphite. Flotation results indicated significantly increased graphite recovery with the addition of KCl regardless of pulp pH. MgCl<sub>2</sub> improved the flotation performance under acidic and slightly alkaline conditions, while AlCl<sub>3</sub> had a better activation on graphite flotation under strong acidic and alkaline conditions. Contact angle and Zeta potential results confirmed that electrolytes substantially reduced the absolute value of surface charge and the hydration of graphite surface, thus improving the hydrophobicity. Froth stability studies indicated that multivalent Al<sup>3+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup> ions exhibit superior foaming performance than K<sup>+</sup> ions and contribute to more stable and abundant foam. Additionally, these salt ions increased the surface tension and prevented bubble coalescence, contributing to nanobubble formation. Therefore, adding MgCl<sub>2</sub> and KCl is of great significance for improved graphite flotation under neutral conditions. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:05:16Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c3b3f94b1ca843d8b070b3313c3613ee |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-163X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-09T23:05:16Z |
| publishDate | 2022-08-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Minerals |
| spelling | doaj.art-c3b3f94b1ca843d8b070b3313c3613ee2023-11-23T17:54:56ZengMDPI AGMinerals2075-163X2022-08-01129107010.3390/min12091070Specific Cation Effect on the Flotation of GraphiteYaxin An0Kangkang Sun1Yangshuai Qiu2Lingyan Zhang3School of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaSchool of Resources and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, ChinaInorganic electrolytes are assumed to significantly impact the flotation performance of graphite resources; however, the underlying mechanism is still unclear. In this work, the effect of three inorganic salts, including KCl, MgCl<sub>2</sub>, and AlCl<sub>3</sub>, was studied on the flotation of graphite. Flotation results indicated significantly increased graphite recovery with the addition of KCl regardless of pulp pH. MgCl<sub>2</sub> improved the flotation performance under acidic and slightly alkaline conditions, while AlCl<sub>3</sub> had a better activation on graphite flotation under strong acidic and alkaline conditions. Contact angle and Zeta potential results confirmed that electrolytes substantially reduced the absolute value of surface charge and the hydration of graphite surface, thus improving the hydrophobicity. Froth stability studies indicated that multivalent Al<sup>3+</sup> and Mg<sup>2+</sup> ions exhibit superior foaming performance than K<sup>+</sup> ions and contribute to more stable and abundant foam. Additionally, these salt ions increased the surface tension and prevented bubble coalescence, contributing to nanobubble formation. Therefore, adding MgCl<sub>2</sub> and KCl is of great significance for improved graphite flotation under neutral conditions.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/9/1070graphiteflotationspecific ion effectkerosenefoam stability |
| spellingShingle | Yaxin An Kangkang Sun Yangshuai Qiu Lingyan Zhang Specific Cation Effect on the Flotation of Graphite Minerals graphite flotation specific ion effect kerosene foam stability |
| title | Specific Cation Effect on the Flotation of Graphite |
| title_full | Specific Cation Effect on the Flotation of Graphite |
| title_fullStr | Specific Cation Effect on the Flotation of Graphite |
| title_full_unstemmed | Specific Cation Effect on the Flotation of Graphite |
| title_short | Specific Cation Effect on the Flotation of Graphite |
| title_sort | specific cation effect on the flotation of graphite |
| topic | graphite flotation specific ion effect kerosene foam stability |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-163X/12/9/1070 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT yaxinan specificcationeffectontheflotationofgraphite AT kangkangsun specificcationeffectontheflotationofgraphite AT yangshuaiqiu specificcationeffectontheflotationofgraphite AT lingyanzhang specificcationeffectontheflotationofgraphite |