Investigation of the Flotation Separation of Scheelite from Fluorite with a Novel Chelating Agent: Pentasodium Diethylenetriaminepentaacetate

The recovery of scheelite from calcium-bearing carbonate ores by foam flotation is challenging due to its low separation efficiency. This study investigated the effect pentasodium diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (PD) on surface properties and fluorite. For this purpose, we performed micro-flotation tests carried out zeta potential measurements, as well Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopic in order analyze these minerals. addition PD a novel depressor significantly improved fluorite sodium oleate (NaOl) flotation-based was spontaneously adsorbed onto through electrostatic chemical adsorption. By contrast, did not appear because reaction conditions, site, steric hindrance. spectroscopy measurements solution chemistry analysis were used for determination PD-selective adsorption mechanism key factors derived multi-layer fluorite, which completely hindered that NaOl.