Using an effective collector is often the key to improving the flotation recovery of valuable mineral concentrates. China's diaspore-type bauxite is a refractory ore, since silicate minerals, such as kaolinite, are often closely embedded with diaspore. Propyl gallate (PG) is an effective and novel collector of diaspore. Detailed flotation behaviors of diaspore and kaolinite with PG and traditional collector sodium oleate (NaOL) were investigated in this work. The effects of stirring speed, aeration volume, slurry pH, and collector dosage on the flotation recovery of the two minerals were discussed. The results show that, compared with the traditional collector NaOL, PG had better collection and selectivity for diaspore since the collector PG could increase the hydrophobic difference of diaspore and kaolinite than NaOL. Under the optimal flotation conditions: 1600 r/min of stirring speed, 60 mL/min of aeration volume, 60 mg/L of PG dosage, and slurry pH 9, the flotation recovery of diaspore and kaolinite are 88.5% and 23.4%, respectively.
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