Talcum particle–air bubble attachment in the presence of carboxymethyl cellulose depressant

Attachment of air bubbles and talcum particles treated with carboxymethyl cellulose is analyzed as a case-study of flotation. The analysis using the extended DLVO (Derjaguin– Landau–Verwey–Overbeek) theory finds out that in the presence of the mentioned agent, talcum particles possessing strong hydrophobic properties freely attach air bubbles in the region of the nearest potential minimum, i.e. at a distance smaller than 0.5–0.7 nm, as the resultant force applied to the particle promotes its approach to the bubble. At the increased consumption of carboxymethyl cellulose, the wetting angle reduces and the electrokinetic potential of talcum grows in modulus. As a result, a potential barrier appears and prevents talcum particle–air bubble interaction. In the range of the farther potential minimum with an abscissa of 5–8 nm, the particle–bubble attachment is complicated as the resultant force applied to the particle prevents its approach to the bubble. The relationship between the carboxymethyl cellulose concentration threshold, which causes origination of the potential barrier, and the medium pH in the range from 7 to 11 at the ionic strength of the dispersive environment from 0.001 to 0.05 mol/l is determined. The potential barrier grows in height with higher concentration of carboxymethyl cellulose, increasing pH and decreasing ionic strength of the dispersive environment. The obtained relationships allow finding the carboxymethyl cellulose concentration for efficient depression of talcum at the known values of pH and ionic strength under conditions of flotation.

Lavrinenko A. A., Golberg G. Yu., Shrader E. A., Sarkisova L. M., Kuznetsova I. N. Talcum particle–air bubble attachment in the presence of carboxymethyl cellulose depressant. MIAB. Mining Inf. Anal. Bull. 2021;(11):68-79. [In Russ]. DOI: 10.25018/0236_ 1493_2021_11_0_68.

A.A. Lavrinenko¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Head of Laboratory, e-mail: lavrin_a@mail.ru,
G.Yu. Golberg¹, Dr. Sci. (Eng.), Leading Researcher, e-mail: gr_yu_g@mail.ru,
E.A. Shrader¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Leading Researcher, e-mail: Leonorashrader@mail.ru,
L.M. Sarkisova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: lidasar@mail.ru,
I.N. Kuznetsova¹, Cand. Sci. (Eng.), Senior Researcher, e-mail: iren-kuznetsova@mail.ru,
¹ Institute of Problems of Comprehensive Exploitation of Mineral Resources of Russian Academy of Sciences, 111020, Moscow, Russia.

G.Yu. Golberg, e-mail: gr_yu_g@mail.ru.

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