LAUSR

Abstract The flotation technique is the most effective method for the silicon removal from magnetite ore, and mixed collectors exhibit superior selectivity and strong synergistic interaction in the flotation of muscovite, feldspar and spodumene ores. In this work, the flotation separation of enstatite and magnetite was investigated using mixed cationic collector cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) and anionic collector sodium oleate (NaOL). The micro-flotation experiments were conducted on single minerals and mixture minerals with pure and mixed collectors. The results show that it is difficult to separation of magnetite from enstatite with CTAB or NaOL collector alone, and mixed CTAB/NaOL exhibits excellent performance with the mole ratio of 2/1 (CTAB/NaOL) at pH 5.5-8.5. Zeta potential measurements and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses were performed to detect the underlying mechanism. The results show that the co-adsorption of NaOL and CTAB is found on magnetite and enstatite surface. The limited CTAB adsorb on magnetite surface through hydrocarbon tail-tail interaction and CTAB is bound to the oxide and silicate on enstatite surface by electrostatic adsorption. The adsorption model of the mixed collector CTAB/NaOL on the mineral surface was drawn.