Influence of Low-Temperature Dielectric Barrier Discharge Plasma on Physicochemical Properties and Flotability of Minerals Present in Ferruginous Quartzite

Abstract The mechanism of change in the acid–base properties of quartz and the structural changes of magnetite surface under the action of low-temperature air-dielectric barrier discharge plasma were experimentally investigated under standard conditions with a view to enhancing extraction of quarts in froth product of reverse cation flotation, and to refining quality of magnetite concentrate. Improvement of electron-donor properties of quartz surface governed the increased adsorption and flotation activity of the mineral relative to cation reagents. The effective parameters of diffuse barrier discharge and the time of plasma pretreatment of mineral samples are determined. As a result, the recovery of quartz in froth product grew by 8–10% and the yield of magnetite was no more than 5%. The modifying effect of the low-temperature atmospheric-air plasma improved the quality of magnetite concentrate at Mikhailovsky GOK from 68.91 to 70.34% owing to the increased recovery of quartz in the froth product of reverse flotation by 3.20%.