Flotation of fluorite with n-alkylammonium chlorides

Experimental study on the electrokinetic and flotation behaviour of fluorite in solutions of n-alkylammonium chlorides (with 10, 12 and 14 carbon atoms) is given. The zero point of charge (ZPC) of luorite was determined by measuring zeta potential (streaming potential method) as a function of pH. Two conditioning times of the mineral with the solution were used (10 minutes and 48 hours) and the respective ZPC were located at pH 2.2 and 8.4. Decyl-, dodecyl- and tetradecylammonium ions seem to be strongly adsorbed on the interface because they made the zeta potential more positive as the concentration increases. Hallimond tube flotation of fluorite was studied and shown to be influenced by the chain length of the collector and both collector and hydrogen ion concentrations. Flotation recovery for a given concentration of collector increases with the number of carbon atoms of the chain. The results have been discussed in the light of the electrical double-layer theory.