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Selective floc formation in an apatite-dolomite system using polyacrylic acid

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Abstract

Polyacrylic acid (PAA) was evaluated as a selective flocculant for the dolomite-apatite system. PAA with a molecular weight (MW) of 4 million was found to flocculate both dolomite and apatite. However, the flocculation behaviors of dolomite and apatite were significantly different with 450,000 MW PAA, which was found to be the lowest molecular weight fraction capable of flocculation. In single-mineral tests with a dosage of 2 kg/t PAA, 90% of the dolomite and 35% of the apatite flocculated. Selectivity was achieved in mixed mineral tests. From a feed consisting of an 80:20 mixture of apatite and dolomite, respectively, a concentrate containing 90% apatite was obtained with a 70% recovery. The dolomite rejection was about 75%, which corresponds to a 2% MgO content in the concentrate.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mineral Resources Research Center, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA

    S. Mathur (member SME, graduate student and professor) & B. M. Moudgil (member SME, graduate student and professor)

  2. Tata Research development & Design Center, Pune, India

    Pradip

Authors
  1. S. Mathur
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  2. B. M. Moudgil
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  3. Pradip
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Additional information

SME Preprint 95–202, SME Annual Meeting, March 6 – 9, 1995, Denver, CO. M&MP paper 95–614. Discussion of this peer-reviewed and approved paper is invited and must be submitted, in duplicate, prior to May 31, 1996.

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Mathur, S., Moudgil, B.M. & Pradip Selective floc formation in an apatite-dolomite system using polyacrylic acid. Mining, Metallurgy & Exploration 13, 1–3 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402708

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03402708

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