Abstract

FENG, B.; FENG, Q.M.; LU, Y.P.  and  WANG, H.H.. The effect of sodium carbonate on the dispersion behaviour and froth flotation of a nickel ore. J. S. Afr. Inst. Min. Metall. [online]. 2015, vol.115, n.12, pp.1239-1242. ISSN 2411-9717.  http://dx.doi.org/10.17159/2411-9717/2015/v115n12a13.

The effect of sodium carbonate on the flotation performance of a nickel ore was studied and the mechanism investigated. The flotation results show that lizardite minerals in the ore interfere with the flotation of pentlandite, and the addition of sodium carbonate improves pentlandite flotation recovery. The pulp pH did not change with increasing sodium carbonate dosage. Drawing on the literature in this area, combined with the sedimentation test results, sieving test results, and infrared spectra study, it is proposed that carbonate ions, derived from sodium carbonate, interact with lizardite slime and change the interparticle force from attraction to repulsion, resulting in the removal of adhering slimes from pentlandite surfaces.

Keywords : sodium carbonate; nickel flotation; lizardite; pentlandite.

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