Flotation reagent- Depressants, Deactivators, Dispersants and Flocculants
In mineral processing plant ,a number of organic and inorganic reagents are used in flotation and auxiliary processes to achieve separation, including collectors, frothers, extenders, activators, depressants, deactivators, flocculants, and dispersants. Collectors, frothers, and extenders are surfactants added to impart hydrophobicity to the minerals and to make selective adsorption of the collector possible or to eliminate interference to flotation by various dissolved or colloidal species. We discuss Depressants, Deactivators, Dispersants and Flocculants this article. Depressants Depressants retard or inhibit flotation of a desired solid. The action of a depressing agent is often a result of its adsorption on the particle surface, which preempts the collector from adsorbing and masks the adsorbed collector from the bulk solution so that the particle does not exhibit a hydrophobic exterior. For example, multivalent ions, such as phosphate, can prevent oleate adsorption on apatit...