Mining Metallurgy & Exploration
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2026
·Vol. 43
·期 2
·1557-1569
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IF 2.5
Deng Rongdong,Zhu Qinqin,Zhao Ruiqi,Guo Bao,Wang Yi,Ku Jiangang
Acid-triggered fluidization separation is a novel technology for separating carbonate minerals (such as calcite) from non-carbonate minerals. CO 2 bubbles released by the reaction of calcite with acids can reduce the apparent specific gravity of calcite particles, thereby facilitating the density-based separation of calcite from other minerals. However, generated CO 2 bubbles typically undergo rapid desorption from the calcite surface, leading to an insufficient separation time. In this study, the phenomenon and mechanism by which sodium dodecyl sulfonate (SDS) mitigates the desorption of CO 2 bubbles from calcite surfaces were investigated using a high-speed camera, sedimentation tests, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. The results showed that SDS effectively increased the residence time of CO 2 bubbles on the calcite surface, improved the bubble size uniformity, and prolonged the duration of the low apparent specific gravity of the calcite particles. The settling test showed that SDS effectively prolonged the settling time of the calcite particles in the presence of 300 mg/L SDS. During the separation of calcite and fluorite in a sulfuric acid solution in a teetered bed separator (TBS sorting), SDS increased the grade of the fluorite concentrate from approximately 80% to more than 95%. This can be attributed to the adsorption of SDS on the calcite surface, which enhances the hydrophobicity of the treated calcite surface. SDS treatment has good application potential for separating carbonate and noncarbonate minerals in the acid solution of TBS sorting.
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高影响因子
MINERALS ENGINEERING
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2026
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IF 6
Renjie Yang,Xun Wang,Ruiqi Xie,Xian Xie,Xiong Tong
Thiodisuccinic acid (TDA) can selectively inhibit calcite. • Cassiterite recovery exceeded 93 % while calcite recovery dropped to 24.04 %. • TDA only weakly adsorbs on cassiterite without affecting NaOL collection. • TDA forms stable chelates with calcite Ca atoms via carboxyl oxygen chemisorption. • TDA occupies calcite active sites to realize its selective flotation depression. Since cassiterite and calcite exhibit comparable inherent floatability, their high-efficiency flotation separation has long been a major technical challenge in the field of tin ore beneficiation. To address this challenge, thiodisuccinic acid (TDA), a novel depressant, was first deployed in the flotation system of cassiterite and calcite in this study. With sodium oleate (NaOL) adopted as the collector, selective depression of calcite and simultaneous efficient recovery of cassiterite were realized. Single mineral flotation results demonstrate that under the optimized conditions with pH 9, TDA dosage of 100 mg/L, and NaOL dosage of 40 mg/L, the recovery of cassiterite reaches 93.42 %, while the recovery of calcite merely reaches 24.04 %. Flotation tests on artificially mixed ores further verify that the addition of depressant TDA raises the tin grade of concentrate from 41.56 % to 53.18 %. Meanwhile, the tin recovery stays above 93 %, which realizes effective upgrading of tin concentrate. Analyses of contact angle, zeta potential, atomic force microscopy (AFM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) reveal that TDA undergoes chemical adsorption on the calcite surface and forms a dense adsorption layer, which significantly reduces its hydrophobicity. In contrast, only feeble physical adsorption takes place between TDA and cassiterite, which does not interfere with the normal collection of cassiterite by NaOL. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations further corroborate the chemical adsorption mechanism between TDA and calcite at the atomic scale. TDA interacts with Ca atoms on the calcite surface through oxygen atoms of carboxyl groups in its molecules and forms stable chelates. TDA occupies the adsorption sites on the calcite surface and hinders the adsorption of NaOL, thereby achieving selective depression of calcite. This study provides a green and efficient technical scheme for the high-efficiency flotation separation of cassiterite and calcite, and also offers a reference for the flotation separation of similar refractory oxide ores. Download: Download high-res image (188KB) Download: Download full-size image
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APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
·
2025
·
IF 6.9
Qifang Zheng,Lidong Qiao,Peilun Shen,Tianfu Zhang,Liuyang Dong,Dianwen Liu
Both scheelite and calcite were calcium-containing oxidized minerals with similar calcium active sites, which leads to a lack of selectivity in the adsorption of collectors. Moreover, their surface chemical and solution chemical properties were similar, which makes their flotation separation extremely challenging. In this study, vanillic acid (VA) was used as a depressant for the flotation separation of scheelite and calcite. However, the difference in recovery of these two minerals was small, making it difficult to achieve effective flotation separation. The synergistic effects of Fe 3+ , Cu 2+ , and Al 3+ with VA were further investigated. It was found that Fe 3+ and Al 3+ had poor depressive effects on calcite in the presence of VA, while Cu 2+ showed the best selectively depressive effect on calcite. When the molar mass ratio of Cu 2+ to VA was 5:1 and the pH was 9.5, the flotation recovery of scheelite and calcite were 88.3 and 3.18 %, respectively. Effective flotation separation of scheelite and calcite was achieved. In addition, the selective depression mechanism of Cu 2+ and VA on scheelite was revealed. In the slurry, VA existed in the form of anions L 2– and HL – . The addition of Cu 2+ significantly improved the adsorption environment of VA on the calcite surface. Cu 2+ could form metal complexes such as CuL and CuHL + with VA. These metal complexes could selectively chemically adsorb on the oxygen atom positions on the calcite surface, resulting in strong depression of calcite. This research provides a new method for the green flotation separation of scheelite and calcite, which has potential industrial application value.
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APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
·
2024
·
IF 6.3
Yijiang Li,Chen Chen,Wencheng Xia,Yujin Sun,Hongxin Qiu
In this study, in-situ flocculation kinetics tests, fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and DFT theoretical calculation were used to analyze flocs properties of calcite flocs under combination of sodium alginate and AlCl 3 /polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and their adsorption mechanism. The results showed that the average size of calcite flocs treated with AlCl 3 -sodium alginate was smaller than that of flocs treated with PAC-sodium alginate. The number of residual fine particles in the slurry treated with AlCl 3 -sodium alginate was more than that in the slurry treated with PAC-sodium alginate. However, the fractal dimension of calcite flocs treated with AlCl 3 -sodium alginate was larger than those treated with PAC-sodium alginate. The sodium alginate and Al 3+ could form chemical adsorption on the calcite surface. AlCl 3 has a higher content of Ala than PAC. Ala could form chemical adsorption between sodium alginate and calcite, resulting in a high strength and fractal dimension of calcite flocs. Alb and Alc was not easily able to form metal bridges between calcite and sodium alginate. The sweep effect of PAC and sodium alginate leads to the formation of large-sized flocs. This work can promote the supplication of sodium alginate as a green flocculant.
研究领域:
环境科学
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化学工程
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MINERALS ENGINEERING
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2021
·
IF 4.765
Xinyang Yu,Ruirui Zhang,Yuhui Zeng,Chen Cheng,Zhiqiang Huang,Jinliang Wang,Guichun He,Haolin Wang
This study presents the use of Cinnamic Hydroxamic Acid (CHA) as a novel collector of malachite. The flotation performance was evaluated by microflotation experiments. The mechanism of CHA adsorption at malachite surfaces was studied by contact angle measurements, zeta potential measurements, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The microflotation experiments demonstrated that the CHA improved selectivity in comparison to benzohydroxamic acid (BA) during malachite flotation. Artificial mixed mineral flotation experiments verified that malachite could be separated from calcite effectively with the CHA collector. The results from contact angle measurements indicated that the hydrophobicity of the malachite surface was increased after CHA treatment. Zeta potential and infrared spectroscopy measurements implied that the adsorption of CHA at malachite. XPS analysis demonstrated that the C and N concentration on the malachite surface increased, with a concomitant decrease in Cu concentration.
研究领域:
矿物加工工程
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表面化学
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CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
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2022
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IF 7.693
Liuxia Chen,Yuqi Song,Hao Fang,Qian Feng,Chenhuan Lai,Xiangyang Song
Microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) is a promising technology for sand fixation, ground stabilisation, concrete crack repairment, and contaminated soil remediation. Sporosarcina pasteurii is the most used urease-producing bacterium for MICP applications. This study proposes a novel, cost-effective culture medium for S. pasteurii using corn-steep liquor as a cheaper nitrogen source, partially replacing the soybean peptone, decreasing the medium cost by 50.5 %. The optimal fermentation conditions were determined by single-factor experiments at a temperature of 30℃, an initial pH of 8.0, and an inoculation amount of 0.5 %. The optimal medium composition was determined by orthogonal experiments at 15 g/L soybean peptone, 30 g/L corn-steep liquor, 10 g/L urea, and 3 g/L sodium dihydrogen phosphate. As a carbon source, lactose was found to inhibit urease activity and should not be added. The novel medium increased the urease activity by 24.2 % and enhanced the unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of the MICP-treated sample to 2.39 MPa, which increased by 21.3 %. XRD analysis shows that calcite, the most stable crystal form of calcium carbonate, was formed in the samples. ESEM images show more calcium carbonate generated on the sample surface, and the cementation between sand particles was better. Therefore, this novel, cost-effective medium made the Sporosarcina pasteurii show satisfying MICP performance and alleviated economic concerns about the large-scale application of MICP.
研究领域:
生物技术
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环境工程
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材料科学
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高影响因子
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING SCIENCE
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2022
·
IF 4.889
Long Wang,Hong Huang,Na Xue,Hao Zhang,Fuping Li
Flotation separation of apatite from calcite has always been challenging because of the similar surface physicochemical properties of apatite and calcite. In this study, hydrolytic polymaleic anhydride (HPMA) was used as an eco-friendly and efficient inhibitor to enhance the flotation separation efficiency of apatite from calcite. The depression performance of HPMA on these minerals was explored using microflotation experiments and bench-scale flotation tests. The adsorption behavior and inhibiting mechanism of HPMA were investigated using zeta potential analysis, surface wettability analysis, adsorption amount measurements, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Microflotation experiments revealed that HPMA presented selectively inhibitory action on calcite flotation and negligible effect on apatite flotation. The bench-scale flotation experiments demonstrated that effective flotation separation of apatite from calcite can be achieved using HPMA as the depressant and sodium oleate (NaOl) as the collector. Under these experimental conditions, an apatite concentrate with P 2 O 5 grade of 36.21 ± 0.71% and recovery of 81.18 ± 1.84% was obtained. Mechanism investigation indicated that HPMA was strongly adsorbed on the calcite surface via chemical reactions between the carboxyl groups of HPMA and activated Ca sites of calcite. This significantly hindered subsequent NaOl adsorption. By contrast, the amount of HPMA physisorbed on the apatite surface was significantly smaller, and its effect on the subsequent adsorption of NaOl on the apatite surface was limited. Accordingly, the selective depression of calcite flotation and efficient flotation separation of apatite from calcite were achieved. In summary, HPMA can be used as a potentially green and highly efficient inhibitor in the flotation separation of apatite from calcite.
研究领域:
矿物加工
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环境科学
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材料科学
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Surfaces and Interfaces
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2025
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IF 6.3
Huirong Zhang,Lijun Zhu,Xiaojun Xue,Qiang Ren,Jinglei Cui,Baofeng Wang,Dongke Zhang,Fangqin Cheng
This study provides mechanistic insights into the inherent calcite-mediated trade-offs in toluene adsorption and regeneration performance of coal-based activated carbon (AC). ACs, from coal with varying calcite (1, 2, and 3%), were prepared via steam activation. While 1% calcite modestly slightly enhanced toluene adsorption to 81.60 mg g −1 by optimizing microporosity and surface π-π interactions, however, higher calcite content (≥2%) exhibited severe performance degradation. Specifically, 3% calcite caused a drastic decline in adsorption capacity to 17.54 mg g −1 , a 77.35% reduction compared to calcite-free AC. This destruction stems from over-etching during activation, leading to micropore collapse (79.5% reduction in microporous surface area), loss of total specific surface area (57.4% decrease), and disrupted graphitization, weakening π-π conjugation with toluene. Surface oxygen group imbalances shifted the mechanism from intraparticle diffusion to superficial, weak physical adsorption. Notably, 1% calcite AC demonstrated superior initial regeneration, retaining 95% of its initial capacity after 10 cycles, attributed to calcite-induced reduction of surface oxygen groups, increasing hydrophobicity and strengthening π–π interactions. However, this enhancement is tempered by a trade-off, as extended use results in microstructural degradation, with micropore volume gradually decreasing, limiting long-term performance. This study revealed calcite's dual nature, emphasizing that optimizing its content is essential for balancing short-term performance with long-term structural integrity for stable VOC removal.
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高影响因子
MINERALS ENGINEERING
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2025
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IF 5
Wenxin Hua,Jingzhong Kuang,Zheyu Huang,Lei Wang,Man Chen,Chenyang Zhang,Mingming Yu,Lingguo Meng
The flotation separation of scheelite and calcite remains an industrial challenge due to their similar surface properties and active sites, making the development of efficient novel depressants crucial for achieving separation. This study investigates the effect of Fe 3+ -pyrogallol (Fe-PA) complex depressants on the flotation separation of scheelite and calcite, exploring the mechanism by which complex structural stability governs the selective depression of minerals. Flotation results demonstrate that, compared to PA alone, Fe-PA complexes exhibit significant depression of calcite flotation while minimally affecting scheelite flotation; with increasing molar ratio of Fe 3+ to PA in the complexes, the grade and recovery of scheelite initially increase then decrease, reaching optimum values at a Fe 3+ :PA molar ratio of 1:2, thereby enabling effective separation of scheelite from calcite. UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy, automatic potentiometric titration, and DFT calculations collectively reveal that the molar ratio of Fe 3+ to PA critically influences complex stability: at the 1:2 ratio, complex absorbance plateaus, stepwise stability constants maximize, the O-Fe bond order peaks, the HOMO-LUMO energy gap widens maximally, and overall Fe-PA complex stability is highest. This enhanced stability directly impacts flotation separation, evidenced by negative adsorption energies of Fe-PA complexes on calcite versus positive values on scheelite; specifically, the 1:2 complex achieves the most negative adsorption energy on calcite, primarily due to its formation of a hydrophilic surface via an octahedral coordination configuration where two O atoms from surface CO 3 2– groups bond with O-Fe in the complex, thereby depressing calcite.
研究领域:
矿物加工工程
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冶金物理化学
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表面与界面化学
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配位化学
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资源综合利用
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高影响因子
MINERALS ENGINEERING
·
2026
·
IF 6
Zhelin Liu,Dan Liu,Zhipeng Liu,Mingyan An,Luyi Xu,Bingduo Xing,Shuming Wen
Using Fe 3+ enhanced the inhibitory effect of MA on calcite. • Fe 3+ adsorbs on calcite CO 3 2– sites, providing new sites for MA adsorption. • A novel, efficient, and eco-friendly inhibitor based on the Fe–MA complex was proposed. Due to the similar surface properties of fluorite and calcite, selective adsorption of collectors remains a challenge in their separation. In this study, a novel composite inhibition system using Fe 3+ -enhanced Malic acid (MA) was developed to selectively suppress calcite by regulating interface coordination interactions. A systematic investigation was conducted through flotation tests, contact angle measurements, molecular dynamics simulations, and surface analysis (FTIR, ToF-SIMS, XPS). Micro-flotation results showed that the recovery of calcite decreased from 64.67% to 8.75% with the addition of Fe 3+ , while the fluorite recovery remained above 92%, indicating significant enhancement in selectivity. Contact angle and molecular dynamics simulations revealed that the Fe–MA complexes markedly increased the hydrophilicity of calcite surfaces. FTIR and ToF-SIMS confirmed the presence of carboxyl groups (–COOH) and iron species (FeO – , FeOH – ) on calcite surfaces, indicating Fe–MA complex adsorption. XPS and DFT results demonstrated that MA adsorbs onto calcite via weak Ca–O bonds, and Fe promotes multi-site adsorption through Fe–O bonds, strengthening the adsorption and enhancing separation efficiency. This study highlights a cooperative coordination mechanism between metal ions and small organic acids, offering a novel strategy for designing low-dose, highly selective green inhibitors for calcium minerals.
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高影响因子
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
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2026
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IF 9.1
Haoran Sun,Zijian Wang,Yulian Wang,Zining Guo,Gui Gao
Wollastonite and calcite were both calcium-containing phases possessing remarkably analogous surface physical-chemical characteristics. Conventional primary amine collectors exhibit poor selectivity between the two, making separation difficult. In this experiment, the quaternary ammonium salt octadecyltrimethylammonium chloride (STAC) was employed as a novel collector to achieve efficient separation of wollastonite and calcite. Flotation experiments on both single and mixed minerals demonstrated that efficient separation of wollastonite and calcite could be achieved under conditions of 20 mg/L STAC and pH 7.0. Zeta potential and contact angle measurements showed that, following interaction with STAC, the zeta potential and contact angle of wollastonite increased significantly; Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis revealed that, after adsorption of STAC onto wollastonite, new absorption peaks appeared at 2922.88 cm −1 and 2854.06 cm −1 , whilst no significant changes were observed in calcite; Field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) revealed that the collector STAC significantly altered the surface microtopography of wollastonite upon adsorption. Based on the data regarding the increase in nitrogen content, STAC appears to prefer adsorption onto the surface of wollastonite; XPS analysis revealed that after STAC treatment, the O1s binding energy shift on wollastonite was 1.10 eV, which is approximately 22 times the shift observed on calcite (0.05 eV), suggesting substantially stronger interaction between STAC and wollastonite; Finally, molecular dynamics simulations further elucidated that STAC undergoes oriented adsorption on the wollastonite surface via strong electrostatic anchoring, whereas only transient non-covalent interactions occur on calcite. In summary, STAC is a highly promising flotation collector capable of efficiently separating wollastonite from calcite.
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高影响因子
MINERALS ENGINEERING
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2025
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IF 5
Na Xue,Yunpeng Zhang,Changfeng Chen,Yangge Zhu,Xuejing Liu,Ling Wang,Hao Wang,Yimiao Nie,Shuxian Liu,Long Wang
To address the challenges in selectively differentiating apatite from calcite via flotation, Tara gum (TG) functioned in the role of a calcite-selective inhibitor during this research. The micro-flotation tests indicated that apatite and calcite displayed comparable buoyancy characteristics when sodium oleate (NaOL) was utilized as the collector. Merely relying on NaOL alone made it extremely arduous to effectuate an efficient segregation of these two minerals. The addition of TG manifested potent and selective inhibitory effect on calcite floatability, while exerted no substantial influence on the flotation of apatite. The findings from the artificial mixed ore tests signified that employing TG in a suppressing role not only enhanced the P 2 O 5 grade within apatite but also had a relatively minor effect on the recovery rate. Surface wettability tests demonstrated that under the combined influence of TG and NaOL, the disparity in hydrophobicity between apatite and calcite was further augmented. Zeta potential measurements intimated TG being present in the system did not impinge on the adsorption of NaOL on the surface of apatite but severely impeded its adsorption on the surface of calcite. Experimental findings from adsorption capacity tests revealed the adsorption quantity of TG on the surface of calcite exhibited a significantly elevated magnitude compared to that on the surface of apatite. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements analysis corroborated that TG was adsorbed on the surface of apatite via weak interactions, while atop the calcite surface, it underwent robust chemisorption with Ca through hydroxyl groups. The outcomes of simulation calculations further substantiated that TG had a greater propensity to attach across the surface of calcite relative to apatite. Based on these experimental revelations, TG held the promise of serving functioning as a discriminatory suppressing agent for the flotation separation of apatite from calcite.
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