The effect and mechanism of cinnamic hydroxamic acid as a collector in flotation separation of malachite and calcite

Abstract This study presents the use of Cinnamic Hydroxamic Acid (CHA) as a novel collector of malachite. The flotation performance was evaluated by microflotation experiments. The mechanism of CHA adsorption at malachite surfaces was studied by contact angle measurements, zeta potential measurements, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). The microflotation experiments demonstrated that the CHA improved selectivity in comparison to benzohydroxamic acid (BA) during malachite flotation. Artificial mixed mineral flotation experiments verified that malachite could be separated from calcite effectively with the CHA collector. The results from contact angle measurements indicated that the hydrophobicity of the malachite surface was increased after CHA treatment. Zeta potential and infrared spectroscopy measurements implied that the adsorption of CHA at malachite. XPS analysis demonstrated that the C and N concentration on the malachite surface increased, with a concomitant decrease in Cu concentration.