Behavior and Mechanism of a Novel Hydrophobic Collector in the Flotation of Bastnaesite

In order to improve the recovery of rare earth elements, finding a collector with strong selectivity ability had become focus research. this paper, phenylpropyl hydroxamic acid (PHA) was used as new hydrophobic surfactant for separation bastnaesite from calcite, and salicylic (SHA) reference collector. The results single mineral flotation test SHA show that reagent has good collection performance selectivity. addition, Zeta potential measurements FTIR analysis PHA is adsorbed on surface by chemical adsorption, state changes after treatment. By XPS analysis, interacts Ce, forms Ce–O bond Ce. It speculated five-element-chelated group Ce surface, so hydrophobicity bastnaesite, make float more easily out pulp. According DFT calculation, better adsorption capacity stronger than SHA, shows superior electronic reactions promote its performance.