Comparative Study of Jhamarkotra Soap Emulsion and Tall Oil Soap Emulsion as Flotation Collectors

• Published in: Indian chemical engineer (Calcutta, India : 1997) Vol. 52; no. 3; pp. 248 - 253
• Main Authors: Srinivas, K., Sekhar, D.M.R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New Delhi Taylor & Francis Group 01.07.2010; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Accumulators; Collectors; Diesel; Efficiency; Emulsions; Fatty acids; Flotation; Soap; Soaps; Sulfonates
• ISSN: 0019-4506; 0975-007X
• DOI: 10.1080/00194506.2010.547973

Soaps of mixed fatty acid origin or soap-light diesel oil (LDO) emulsion are used as collectors in the froth flotation of salt type minerals (for example - apatite, fluorite, dolomite, etc.). Detergents are sometimes used along with soaps to reduce the consumption of soap and also to improve the process efficiency. In the present investigations effect of different reagent regimes on flotation of a siliceous phosphate ore was studied. Flotation tests were carried out using mixed fatty acid soap and tall oil. Both the reagents were used as emulsions with light diesel oil in the ratio of 1:1.2. Tests were also carried out with promoters (Alfa Olefin Sulfonate [AOS], Linear Alkyl Benzene Sulfonate [LABS] and Urea) along with these reagents to evaluate the process efficiency. While AOS and LABS are detergents, urea is a polar non electrolyte reagent known to act as hydrotrope. It is noted that mixed fatty acid soap-LDO emulsion (SL emulsion) shows better process efficiency than tall oil-LDO emulsion (TL emulsion). The highest recoveries (>90%) were achieved when mixed fatty acid was used in conjunction with promoters. The experiments with promoters yielded higher recoveries rather than mixed fatty acid or tall oil used alone.