Flotation performance and adsorption mechanism of 2-triethylenetetramine methylene-4-nonylphenol to pyrochlore

The flotation performance and adsorption mechanism of 2-triethylenetetramine methylene-4-nonylphenol (TMNP) on pyrochlore were investigated through micro-flotation experiments, zeta-potential tests, contact angle and XPS measurements. Additionally, the frothing properties of TMNP were studied using froth volume and surface tension tests compared with DDA. The flotation results showed that TMNP exhibited strong collecting ability for pyrochlore, but showed no selectivity towards quartz or feldspar. Separation experiments showed sodium aluminium silicate was an effective depressant for the separation of pyrochlore, feldspar, quartz, and calcite. The frothing properties of both TMNP and DDA were correlated with their respective surface tensions. Contact angle experiments demonstrated contact angle increased with increasing concentrations of TMNP and DDA. Zeta potential indicated that TMNP might adsorb onto pyrochlore surfaces through electrostatic attraction and chemical adsorption while DDA only exhibited physical adsorption. XPS data provided further evidence for the chemical adsorption of TMNP onto pyrochlore surfaces.