Analysis of Reagent Regimes in Nepheline Concentrate Production from Loparite Ore Processing Tailings by Flotation

The authors analyzed some reagent regimes in flotation of nepheline from loparite ore tailings: mixture of tall oils, hydroxamic acids in combination with distilled tall oil; mix of tall oils with addition of polyalkyl benzene sulfonic acids or amine-containing collectors. The nepheline concentrate produced in the optimized reagent regime contained Al2O3 27.18–27.57%. With addition of tall oil polyalkyl benzene sulfonic acid, activity of the collecting mixture reduced, and the produced concentrate quality lowered to Al2O3 26.33%. Two methods to bring flotation concentrates to a standard quality are discussed. The use of magnetic separation allowed production of nepheline concentrate with Al2O3 28.0–28.3% at the recovery of 72–76% compared to the initial product. Direct cationic flotation with agent Flotigam-2835 in an acidic medium with pH 4.5, created by sodium silicofluoride, produced nepheline concentrate with Al2O3 29.63% at the recovery of 65.9% compared to the initial product.