Selective Separation of Fluorite from Scheelite Using N-Decanoylsarcosine Sodium as a Novel Collector

Fluorite and scheelite, which are strategic calcium-bearing minerals, have similar active sites (Ca2+); as a result, the efficient separation of two minerals is still one world’s most difficult problems in field flotation. In this work, N-decanoylsarcosine sodium (SDAA), non-toxic low-cost amino acid surfactant, was applied flotation fluorite from scheelite for first time. test, single mineral, binary mixed actual ore experiments showed that pre-removal by reverse can be achieved. The results adsorption capacity detections, zeta potential tests, FTIR analysis negatively charged SDAA prefers to adsorb onto positively surface due electrostatic interaction. crystal chemistry DFT calculations has stronger chemical interaction more electron transfer numbers Ca atom on forms Ca-SDAA complex. Therefore, significant difference behavior surfaces provided new insight into efficiency acids possesses great industrial application