Study on the surface activation of ilmenite by persulfate and flotation response

• Published in: Separation and purification technology 2024-09, Vol.343, p.127079, Article 127079
• Main Authors: Peng, Jieli, Zheng, Yongxing, Wang, Zhenxing, Dai, Zhe, Guo, Ziqi
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activation; Flotation; Ilmenite; Sodium oleate
• ISSN: 1383-5866; 1873-3794
• DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2024.127079

•Na2S2O8 used as a new activator was introduced to improve ilmenite flotation.•Na2S2O8 effectively oxidized Fe2+ into Fe3+ on the surface of ilmenite.•The increase in active sites of iron enhanced the adsorption of NaOL.•A reaction model of Na2S2O8 activating the ilmenite was proposed. In this study, an innovative method was proposed to treat ilmenite by using sodium persulfate (Na2S2O8) as a surface activator to enhance the flotation of ilmenite. The action mechanism of Na2S2O8 on the ilmenite surface was investigated by micro-flotation, adsorption tests, powder contact angle, zeta potential detection, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. Micro-flotation experiments showed that recovery of the ilmenite was effectively enhanced in the pH range of 4.0 ∼ 10.0 by adding Na2S2O8. The adsorption tests illustrated that the introduction of Na2S2O8 effectively enhanced the adsorption of NaOL on the surface of ilmenite. The powder contact angle tests presented that the contact angle of samples increased after treatment with Na2S2O8 and NaOL. The zeta potential testing results showed that surface potential of the ilmenite treated with Na2S2O8 and NaOL was negatively migrated in the pH ranging from 3.5 to 10.0, revealing that the mineral surface adsorbed more oleic acid anions. FT-IR analyses suggested that the chemical adsorption of oleic acid on the surface of ilmenite was enhanced after treating with Na2S2O8. XPS analyses revealed that the addition of Na2S2O8 induced a transformation of Fe (+Ⅱ) into Fe (+Ⅲ) and enhanced adsorption of NaOL on the ilmenite surface. A reaction model of Na2S2O8 interacting with the surface of ilmenite was proposed to interpret the activation mechanisms.