Flotation mechanism and application of PEA with different chain lengths in quartz flotation

In this study, the flotation behavior and adsorption mechanism of quartz flotation using poly (propylene glycol) bis (2-aminopropyl ether) (PEA) with different carbon chain lengths as collectors were studied. The mineral properties and adsorption mechanism were analyzed using XRD, ICP-OES, FTIR, and XPS tests. The results show that the water solubility of the collector is negatively related to the chain length. The insertion of the ether bonds (C─O─C) and the two amine groups (─NH 2 ) improve the water solubility of PEA. Their collection capacity is proportional to the chain length and the insertion of the ether bonds hardly affects their collection capacity. PEA is attached to the quartz surface mainly by electrostatic adsorption, and to a less extent by hydrogen bond adsorption. Based on the above results, PEA-D400 can be used as a collector to separate low-grade quartz into products of different purity levels.