Unveiling the role of hydrophobicity and foam property in froth flotation of lepidolite with decamine, dodecylamine, tetradecylamine, hexadecylamine and MIBC

In order to overcome the limitations of fatty amines (FAS) and reduce consumption and costs, this study developed a high-efficiency flotation system that FAS with methyl isobutyl methanol (MIBC). Single mineral flotation results showed that MIBC enhanced the collecting ability of decamine (DCA), dodecylamine (DDA), tetradecylamine (TDA), and hexadecylamine (HCA) while reducing their dosage. At pH 3, recoveries for DCA, DDA, TDA, and HCA were 63.22 ± 1.34 %, 86.284 ± 4.33 %, 72.30 ± 3.34 %, and 40.02 ± 2.27 %, respectively. With MIBC added, these increased to 89.43 ± 1.87 %, 89.58 ± 2.66 %, 73.38 ± 4.27 %, and 79.60 ± 2.23 %. Batch flotation experiments also demonstrated that lepidolite recovery by DDA and HCA rose from 96.64 % and 36.47–96.70 % and 98.29 %, respectively. Surface tension and viscosity detection revealed that the addition of MIBC to FAS resulted in a decrease in surface tension and an increase in solution viscosity. The adsorption, zeta potential, contact angle and foaming property tests indicated that MIBC can enhanced the recovery of lepidolite by adjusting the adsorption densities of DCA and DDA, as well as modifying the bubble properties of TDA and HDA in the flotation pulp. These findings highlighted the critical role of bubble properties in lepidolite flotation systems, going beyond mere hydrophobicity effects.