Influence of metal ions on muscovite and calcite flotation: With respect to the pre-treatment of vanadium bearing stone coal

This work focused on the removal of calcite from the decarburized stone coal using flotation. The influence of Al3+, Fe3+, and Ca2+ on the flotation behavior of muscovite and calcite was studied by micro-flotation experiments, aqueous speciation calculation, zeta potential and XPS measurements. The micro-flotation results showed that the Ca2+ exhibited little impact on muscovite and calcite floatability with sodium oleate as collector, while the Al(3+ )and Fe3+ remarkably reduced the floatability differences between muscovite and calcite. In the presence of Al3+ and Fe3+, the muscovite was activated, and the calcite was depressed. The aqueous speciation calculation results showed that the existing form of metal ions determined the extent of their influence on mineral floatability. Zeta potential and XPS measurements demonstrated that the adsorption of metal ions on muscovite surface was pH dependent, but the adsorbed metal ions did not entirely desorb with the pH adjustment.