Conference Dates

April 29-May 4, 2018

Abstract

Global increase in rare earth demand and consumption has led to a further understanding of their beneficiation and recovery. Monazite is the second most important rare earth mineral that can be further exploited. In this study, the surface chemistry of monazite in terms of zeta potential, adsorption density, and flotation response by microflotation using octanohydroxamic acid is determined. Apatite, ilmenite, quartz, rutile, and zircon are minerals that frequently occur with monazite among other minerals, hence were chosen as gangue minerals in this study. The Iso Electric Point (IEP) of monazite, apatite, ilmenite, quartz, rutile, and zircon are 5.3, 8.7, 3.8, 3.4, 6.3, and 50.1 respectively. Thermodynamic parameters of adsorption were evaluated. Ilmenite has highest driving force for adsorption. Adsorption density shows that hydroxamate adsorbs on to monazite and its gangue minerals. This observation was further confirmed by microflotation experiments. Increasing temperature to 80°C raises the adsorption and floatability of monazite and gangue minerals, which does not allow for separation. Appropriate use of depressant is recommended in order to achieve separation of monazite from its gangue.

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