Simultaneous hydrophobic and magnetic flocculation of fine paramagnetic mineral particles in aqueous suspension.

Theoretical and experimental study was made of the flocculation in an external magnetic field of fine paramagnetic particles rendered hydrophobic by adsorption of surfactants. The theoretical stability of the particles in aqueous suspension was proposed by extension of classical DLVO theory. The potential energies of interaction in an external magnetic field were then calculated for fine rhodochrosite particles with adsorbed sodium oleate. Experimental results for fine rhodochrosite and siderite particles showed that the combined process exhibits much stronger and faster aggregation than either hydrophobic or magnetic flocculation alone. An artificial mixture of fine rhodochrosite and quartz was well separated, with 7.8% higher concentrate grade and 6.3% higher concentrate recovery than for hydrophoobic flocculation alone. A recovery of 77% was achieved for refractory siderite ore from Da ye in Hubei, a 7% improvement on recovery from hydrophobic flocculation.
Theoretical and experimental study was made of the flocculation in an external magnetic field of fine paramagnetic particles rendered hydrophobic by adsorption of surfactants. The theoretical stability of the particles in aqueous suspension was proposed by extension of classical DLVO theory. The potential energies of interaction in an external magnetic field were then calculated for fine rhodochrosite particles with adsorbed sodium oleate. Experimental results for fine rhodochrosite and siderite particles showed that the combined process exhibits much stronger and faster aggregation than either hydrophobic or magnetic flocculation alone. An artificial mixture of fine rhodochrosite and quartz was well separated, with 7.8% higher concentrate grade and 6.3% higher concentrate recovery than for hydrophoobic flocculation alone. A recovery of 77% was achieved for refractory siderite ore from Da ye in Hubei, a 7% improvement on recovery from hydrophobic flocculation.