SEPARATION OF MAGNESITE FROM ITS CONTAMINANTS BY REVERSE FLOTATION

摘要

ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSUREThe present invention provides a reverse flotationmethod for the removal of contaminants from a magnesite orewhich has as a main component magnesium carbonate and ascontaminants silica and silicates of iron, aluminum and calciumwhich method comprises grinding the previously crushed ore to adesired grain size; classifying the pulp so obtained, conditioningsaid classified pulp in a conditioner,when required adjusting thepH of said pulp to be in the range 6.8 to 7.2 and subjecting saidpulp to a flotation by the addition of a selective mixture ofcationic collectors in combination with impure kerosene to thepulp during or after the conditioning or both; removing thecontaminants and the froth and removing the ore concentrate soobtained in a settled underflow product. Suitably the mixtureof cationic collectors is a mixture of a quaternary ammoniumcompounds and primary amines.