Efficient enrichment of fine rhodochrosite is key to purifying manganese carbonate ore and reducing the discharge of electrolytic manganese slag at the source. Enhancing the agglomeration of rhodochrosite fines is important for efficient flotation separation. In this study, we investigated the agglomeration mechanism of rhodochrosite fines co-enhanced by oleic-kerosene emulsion and static magnetic field using agglomerate and surface properties analysis, electrical conductivity and atomic force microscopy measurements, and extended Derjaguin, Landau, Verwey, and Overbeek theoretical calculations. The results showed that the agglomerate size and regularity degree increased with increasing shearing time, achieving the maximum values of the average size at 20 min with magnetic field and at 40 min without magnetic field. Larger-sized and tighter agglomerates can be formed in a shorter time by the Lorentz force in magnetic field. As magnetic field was applied, the surface electronegativity of rhodochrosite in emulsion solution was stronger and positively correlated with magnetic field intensity. In addition, due to the higher solubility of oleic acid, the adsorption capacity and net heat of emulsion increased, resulting in a stronger hydrophobicity of rhodochrosite with a shorter hydrophobization time. Interestingly, almost no attraction existed between particles with magnetic field in aqueous solution, while a larger attraction existed without magnetic field in emulsion solution, and the attraction and action distance both increased markedly with increasing magnetic field intensity. However, the magnetic attraction was much smaller than hydrophobic attraction. As a result, agglomeration of rhodochrosite fines could be enhanced by stronger hydrophobic attraction under the synergy effect of magnetic field and oleic-kerosene emulsion. This research will be conducive to in-depth insight into the enhancement mechanisms of rhodochrosite agglomeration and will provide a basis for flotation regulation.
Sulfurized nanoscale zero-valent iron supported on biochar (BC-SNZVI) has been successfully synthesized for 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) removal, while was only effectively under acidic conditions. To obtain highly efficient removal of 2,4,6-TCP within a broader pH range, weak static magnetic fields (WMF) was applied in BC-SNZVI/2,4,6-TCP aqueous systems. Results showed 30 mT WMF supported the most extensive 2,4,6-TCP removal, and 87.4% of 2,4,6-TCP (initial concentration of 30 mg/L) was removed by 0.5 g/L BC-SNZVI at neutral pH (pH = 6.8) within 180 min, which was increased by 54.4% compared to that without WMF. The observed rate constant ( K obs ) under 30 mT WMF was 2.1-fold greater than that without WMF. Although three typical anions (NO 3 − (0.5–10.0 mM), H 2 PO 4 − (0.05–0.5 mM), and HCO 3 − (0.5–5.0 mM)) still inhibited 2,4,6-TCP removal, WMF could efficiently alleviate the inhibitory effects. Moreover, 73.1% of 2,4,6-TCP was successfully removed by BC-SNZVI under WMF in natural water. WMF remarkably boosted the dechlorination of 2,4,6-TCP, increasing the 2,4,6-TCP dechlorination efficiency from 45.2% (in the absence of WMF) to 83.8% (in the presence of WMF) by the end of 300 min. And the complete dechlorination product phenol appeared within 10 min. Force analysis confirmed the magnetic field gradient force ( F B ) moved paramagnetic Fe 2+ at the SNZVI surface along the direction perpendicular to the external applied field, promoting the mass-transfer controlled SNZVI corrosion. Corrosion resistance analysis revealed WMF promoted the electron-transfer controlled SNZVI corrosion by decreasing its self-corrosion potential ( E corr ). With the introduction of sulfur, the magnitude of F B doubled and the E corr decreased comparing with NZVI. Our findings provide a facile and viable strategy for treating chlorinated phenols at neutral pH.