The role of physical sorption in increasing the extraction and selectivity of the useful component in foam flotation

The article deals with the issues of increasing the extraction and selectivity of extraction of a useful component in flotation. The influence of different forms of ionogenic collector sorption on the foam flotation process is demonstrated. The relationship between the extraction of the target mineral and the quality of the flotation concentrate is revealed. The difference in the selective-collecting properties of short- and long-chain oxyhydryl collectors, as well as shortchain sulfhydryl collectors: dithiophosphates, xanthogenates, and dithiocarbamates is explained. Within the framework of the mechanisms of operation of chemically and physically sorbed collectors in the elementary act of flotation, an interpretation is given to the increase in the selectivity of the extraction of the target mineral while reducing their consumption. It is demonstrated that the choice of a collector for the flotation of minerals with increased or decreased hydrophobicity depends on a shift in the balance of forces of the chemical or physical forms of sorption of the collector or its derivative forms acting during the formation of the flotation complex. The bala nce shifts towards increasing the strength of the physical form of sorption for minerals with increased hydrophobicity. Minerals with reduced hydrophobicity require collectors with higher chemical bond energy with the mineral. A method based on the mechanism of operation of a physically sorbed collector is proposed. The method improves the quality of a flotation concentrate by combining ionogenic and nonionic or ionogenic collectors: anionic and cationic. It is demonstrated that the required balance of forces will be determined by the physical and chemical properties of the collectors included in the composition, the surface activity with respect to the gas–liquid interface and the reactivity, characterized by the equilibrium constant of reversible processes. The article gives practical recommendations for choosing a collector flotation reagent or combinations of collectors that are included in the composition.The work was carried out within the framework of the research project (state registration number 121051900145-1).