Selection of collector composition and temperature conditions for diamond foam separation

Abstract

Quantitative and qualitative regularities of a collector low and high molecular weight fractions distribution between solid and liquid phases in foam separation process were determined with the use of extraction-spectrophotometrical technique. The feasibility of producing a collector with optimal ratio of fractions of light distillates, hydrocarbon oils, resin, and asphaltenes by mixing M-40 fuel oil with diesel fuel oil in specified ratios was substantiated. It was shown that applying compound collectors with M-40 fuel oil weight percentage of 60-70 enabled increasing diamond recovery by 2.7-3.5%. Similar increase was also achieved when using F-5 bunker fuel oil diluted by 10-18% with diesel oil fraction. The optimal temperature of 24 °C for initial ore feed conditioning with flotation agents and foam separation providing maximum diamond recovery into concentrate and high selectivity was determined. The proposed collectors and temperature conditions enabled increasing diamond recovery.