A comparison of anionic and cationic flotation of a siliceous phosphate rock in a column flotation cell

Flotation performance of a de-slimed (−150 + 53 μm) Jordanian siliceous phosphate was evaluated in a batch laboratory flotation column 100 cm high and 5 cm inside diameter. The collector used during anionic flotation was sodium oleate while an amine acetate (AEROMINE 3100C) was used for cationic flotation. Flotation comparison at different collector dosage, superficial gas velocity, and frother concentration showed that the maximum difference in performance between cationic and anionic flotation was obtained with these flotation parameters: 30 × 10−6 (mg/L) frother concentration, 250 g/t collector concentration, and 3.4 cm/s superficial gas velocity. At these operating conditions amine (cationic) flotation gave 7% higher flotation recovery, a 6% cleaner concentrate grade, and was 6% more efficient at removing silica.