Abstract:
With the depletion of large flake graphite resources, micro−flake graphite resources will be the main graphite resources in the future, and it is imperative to develop micro−scale graphite ore separation technology. This work mainly investigated the effect of nanobubbles on the strengthening flotation behavior of fine flake graphite in order to achieve efficient recovery of micro−fine flake graphite. The differences between nanobubble flotation and conventional flotation were studied by flotation kinetics, laser particle size analyzer, Zeta potentiometer and contact angle analyzer. The results showed that the nano-bubble flotation time was 25 seconds earlier to complete the flotation of fine flake graphite compared with the traditional flotation. The recovery and carbon content of nanobubble flotation concentrate were 92.91% and 73.40%, respectively, which were about 5 percentage points and 1 percentage point higher than that of traditional flotation concentrate. The results of laser dynamic analysis of pulp showed that nanobubbles can effectively aggregate micro−fine flake graphite, increased its apparent size and improved the flotation effect. The results of particle size analysis of concentrate showed that nanobubbles can recover the micro−fine flake graphite below 10 μm which can not be recovered effectively by traditional flotation, thus improving the recovery of concentrate flotation. The contact angle analysis results showed that the surface contact angle of the nanobubble flotation concentrate was 6.92° higher than that of the traditional flotation concentrate, so the surface hydrophobicity of the graphite was improved. The Zeta potential test results showed that the nanobubbles reduced the electrostatic repulsion between the particles of micro−fine flake graphite, which was conducive to the stable aggregate structure of microscale graphite to improve the flotation probability.