Non-HF collectorless flotation of quartz. (15th March 2019) - Larsen, Erik
Highlights: Quartz floats in solutions of an inorganic acid with NaF and the frother Brij58. Lower F concentration and F/H ratio with different F and H sources, compared to HF. Quartz contact angle increases with H2 SO4 /H2 SO4 + NaF, but not with NaF or Brij58. Abstract: Pure mineral flotation experiments have demonstrated that quartz can be floated without a collector, in solutions containing an inorganic acid (e.g. H2 SO4 ) and sodium fluoride (NaF). Excellent quartz recoveries, similar to that of previous investigations with aqueous solutions containing hydrofluoric acid (HF), have been achieved with lower fluorine concentrations and a more optimal F/H ratio when combining separate sources of H and F instead of using only HF.