Applicability of the Suspension Effect in Estimation of Influence Exerted by Ionic Composition of Flotation Pulp on Apatite Surface

Abstract

By means of determining the suspension effect, the authors studied the change in the surface properties of apatite under the action of reagents and ions present in flotation pulp during processing of apatite-bearing ore. It is shown that the ratio of acid–base centers of apatite surface change in interaction with ions HCO\(_3^-\), CO\(_3^{2-}\), HPO\(_2^{2-}\), cations Ca\(^{2 + }\) and oleate ions in distilled water and in water after deionization to remove carbon dioxide. The change in apatite surface properties in alkaline water shows up as quantitative superiority of base centers. Such ionization of mineral surface favors adsorption of cations, for example, Ca\(^{2 + }\), and sets background for more efficient interaction between anion-type agents. The data obtained from the studies of the suspension effect, correlate with the results of infrared spectroscopy of apatite treated by the appropriate agents.