Reverse iron oxide magnetic ultrasonic nanobubble-flotation-Rio Mun
| Reference number | |
| Coordinator | Luleå tekniska universitet - Avdelningen för Mineral och metallurgi |
| Funding from Vinnova | SEK 2 000 000 |
| Project duration | February 2021 - July 2023 |
| Status | Completed |
| Venture | Sweden Brazil Innovation Initiative |
| Call | International collaboration for innovations with actors in Brazil in collaboration with EMBRAPII |
Important results from the project
Brazil is one of the main iron ore producers in the world. Today, Sweden is the largest source of iron ore in Europe, with approximately 92% of Europe´s iron and 5% of the world´s iron reserves. Froth flotation and magnetic separation are the main beneficiation techniques for processing iron oxide ores. However, these processes have several challenges for processing ultrafine particles. This collaborative investigation considered various flotation conditions to explore and enhance the recovery of ultrafine particles via eco-friendly flotation reagents.
Expected long term effects
Results indicated that flotation conditions could enhance the flotation separation efficiency of ultrafine magnetite from gangue phases. Different flotation collectors can change the metallurgical responses. The findings demonstrated that both diamine and monoamine ether amines exhibited significant flotation capabilities for ultrafine quartz particles, with flotation rates of 96 and 98%, respectively. Surface analyses indicated a robust chemical interaction between the collectors and quartz particles and a weaker physical interaction with magnetite particles.
Approach and implementation
The quartz collecting ability of the collectors was of the order of Lilaflot 811M and Lilaflot 822M > ether monoamine (Lilaflot 919) > amidoamine (Armeen APA C). From the flotation kinetics, the following was found based on first order model Lilaflot 811M > Lilaflot 822M > Lilaflot 919 > Armeen APA C. Assessment of the metallurgical performance using the separation efficiency shows that ether monoamine has better selectivity and thus superior separation efficiency. The maximum recoveries were 81.3 % (grade 57.6 %),76.3 % (grade 59.0 %) for Lilaflot 811M, Lilaflot 919, respectively.