Aliquat-336 as a novel collector for quartz flotation

• Aliquat-336 is a novel collector in the flotation of quartz from BHQ ore.
• 65% Fe grade with 60% recovery was achieved from a lean ore containing 38% Fe.
• No frother used in the flotation is an added advantage.

The study illustrates the first ever use of Aliquat-336 (C25H54ClN), an ionic liquid, in the flotation separation of quartz from hematite. Laboratory flotation studies of hematite, quartz and their synthetic mixture have shown selective collecting action of Aliquat-336 toward quartz. At an Aliquat-336 dosage of 280 g/t, 97% quartz is floated at slightly alkaline pH (∼8), whereas hematite recovery is only 8%. Flotation of the synthetic mixture of hematite: quartz (1:1), with Aliquat-336 as the quartz collector and starch as the hematite depressant, has resulted in an iron concentrate of 63–65% Fe with 85–88% recovery. The reverse flotation behavior of the low grade banded hematite quartzite (BHQ) using Aliquat-336 as the collector has been investigated. It is observed that, iron values up to ∼65% Fe with 60% recovery can be achieved from the ore containing ∼38% Fe. Surface potential measurement and FTIR spectra lead to the indication of electrostatic adsorption between Aliquat-336 and quartz.

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