Effects of Metallic Ions on the Flotation of Spodumene and Beryl

Effects of multivalent metallic cations, such as Ca2+ and Fe3+, on the flotation of spodumene and beryl were studied. The results show that Fe3+ and Ca2+ exhibit efficient activation on the flotation of spodumene and beryl. The ac-tivation of Fe3+ happens quite well within a pH range of 6–9 while the concentration of Fe3+ is 35 mg/L. Efficient acti-vation of Ca2+ takes place over at a pH over 11.6 at a concentration of 140 mg/L. The zeta potential of beryl and spo-dumene shifts slightly to positive values when activated by Ca2+, but markedly by Fe3+. New stretching frequencies of 1594.24 cm−1 and 1587.13 cm−1 have been found in the FTIR spectra of the two minerals after their interaction with Fe3+ and the collector. These new stretching frequencies are the asymmetric stretching frequencies of COO - (carboxyl anion), so thecollector may be chemically absorbed on the surface of Fe3+ -activated beryl and spodumene.