On the Fundamental Aspects of Apatite and Quartz Flotation Using a Gram Positive Strain as a Bioreagent

摘要

Mineral bioflotation encompasses the principles and methods used in mineral flotation using microorganisms as flotation reagents. This work deals with the fundamental aspects of apatite and quartz flotation using a R. opacus bacteria as a bioreagent. The zeta potential results showed a change in the curves profile of the minerals after the bacterial interaction, this change was more significant in the zeta potential curves of apatite than those for quartz. The results also suggest that the bacterial adhesion onto the mineral surfaces was predominantly specific. The greatest apatite flotability achieved 90% at pH around 5, in the presence of 150 mg.L~(-1) of bacteria after 5 minutes of flotation. On the other hand, quartz achieved a flotability of 14% under the same experimental conditions. The fundamental flotation studies showed the prospective that R. opacus presents as a biocollector and biofrother and its promising application in phosphate flotation industry.