Effects of modifying reagents on huntite flotation

Huntite is one of the most important flames retardant additive materials. Although various areas of the world have potential huntite deposits, huntite's place in industry is not well known and a detailed field search for hunite's deposits has not been conducted yet. Formations in the world include different types of minerals such as huntite, hydromagnesite, magnesite, clay minerals, and dolomite. However, physical, chemical, physicochemical, and mineralogical properties of these ores have not been determined yet. In this study, the flotation behavior and electrokinetic properties of huntite were determined in the presence of potassium oleate. The effects of common ions that are expected in flotation pulps, such as Mg2+and Ca2+, were studied. The influences of pH and modifying reagents such as sodium silicate (Na2SiO3·5H2O) and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC) on surface properties of huntite were also examined. Electrokinetic measurements showed that the iso-electric point of huntite was approximately 8.0. The surface charge of huntite becomes positive in the presence of 10-2 M of MgCl2 and CaCl2 at all pH values. According to microflotation test results, Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions have a detrimental effect on the floatability of huntite. Na2SiO3 was seen to have no significant effect on the floatability of huntite. Flotation experiments with CMC indicated that it acts as a depressant on huntite.