Recovery of kaolinite from tailings of Zonouz kaolin-washing plant by flotation-flocculation method

The traditional processing of kaolin is achieved by dispersion of the mined ore and classification by multistage hydrocyclone plants. The inefficiencies inherent to cyclones produce a middling product that is commonly disposed back into the quarry. In this research, recovery of kaolinite from tailings of Zonouz kaolin washing plant, which is located in Iran was investigated by flotation and flotation- flocculation. Flotation experiments show that the flotation of kaolinite from the tailings is better in an acidic than in an alkaline medium containing cationic collectors. Flotation under acidic condition causes problems such as equipment corrosion at industrial scale. As a result, the cationic flotation of kaolinite is enhanced by addition of polyacrylamide as a flocculant. The results showed flocculation by polyacrylamide improved flotation of kaolinite within a range of pH. With 300 g/t dodecylamine, 500 g/t aluminum chloride, 50 g/t pine oil (frother), 15 g/t polyacrylamide, at pH = 7 and without de-slimming a product has 37.19% Al2O3, 54.19% SiO2 and 34.43% mass recovery was archived.