Lauryl phosphate adsorption in the flotation of Bastnaesite, (Ce,La)FCO3

Wetting characteristics and micro-flotation responses of bastnaesite were examined as a function of pH and at different levels of lauryl phosphate adsorption. Theoretical computations for the bastnaesite-lauryl phosphate system were calculated using the universal force field (UFF) and semiempirical quantum chemical methods. The interaction energy and frontier orbital results correlate remarkably well with the experimental contact angle and micro-flotation test results. The wetting characteristics of bastnaesite with adsorbed collector were examined using both contact angle measurements and molecular dynamics simulations (MDS). The adsorption isotherm at low levels of lauryl phosphate adsorption was established. Finally, the relationship between hydrophobicity and adsorption density was examined by MDS, and compared to the results with octyl hydroxamate at low collector concentrations. (C) 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.