Abstract

Selective separation of ilmenite from gangue minerals after ultrasonic preconditioning was studied in terms of surface dissolution. After preconditioning, ilmenite exhibited better single-mineral flotation capacity while titanaugite and olivine had lower recoveries. Significant separation could be obtained at pH 6.0 after ultrasonic treatment (500 W, 5 min). Zeta potentials of preconditioned titanaugite and olivine shifted positively compared to those of raw titanaugite and olivine treated with sodium oleate (NaOL), respectively. Meanwhile, the zeta potential of ilmenite was similar before and after NaOL adsorption. Mineral dissolution results indicate that ultrasonic preconditioning promotes the dissolution of Mg and Fe species but not the Ca species. The dissolution of Ca and Mg is much higher than that of Fe. According to solution chemistry calculation, Fe(OH)3 precipitate is dominant at pH greater than 2.5, and Ca2+, Mg2+, Fe2+, and Fe(OH)+ are dominant under acidic conditions. Microcalorimetric measurements demonstrate that the preconditioned ilmenite releases more heat during NaOL adsorption than titanaugite and olivine do. XPS results reveal that ultrasonic treatment facilitates the conversion of Fe2+ to Fe3+. After preconditioning, Fe species interacted with NaOL to promote the latter’s chemisorption on ilmenite and olivine, while Ca2+ was more likely to interact with NaOL on titanaugite.

Keywords: 

Ultrasonic preconditioning 

Ilmenite 

Selective adsorption 

Surface dissolution 

Metallic ions