Review of flotation of feldspar

AbstractThis paper reviews the application of flotation for the separation of feldspar from the other minerals with which it naturally occurs (such as quartz, clay minerals, mica, ilmenite, rutile, anatase and magnetite) as well as the separation of the individual feldspar minerals themselves. Much of the published information on feldspar flotation relates to fundamental studies seeking to elucidate the mechanism of the separation and recovery of feldspar with anionic or cationic collectors and activators. However, the separation schemes currently being used industrially are largely the same as those first proposed 60 years ago because the processes used are very efficient. The general circuit for commercial separation of feldspar consists of three sequential stages of flotation, all of which are carried out in an acid medium. Usually, before flotation, the feed is deslimed, removing any fine clay minerals present. In the first flotation stage, mica is removed with an amine collector. In the second stage,...