Surface dissolution behavior and its influences on the flotation separation of spodumene from silicates

Surface dissolution behaviors of spodumene, feldspar, and quartz, and its influences on their surface properties and flotation separation were investigated when pretreated in deionized water (DI water), NaOH solution and HCl solution individually. The surface components of minerals, such as Si and Al, had shown different dissolution behaviors. In the presence of sodium oleate, the contact angle of spodumene increased after pretreated by the NaOH solution, but it decreased after pretreated by the HCl solution. The dissolution of Si from spodumene is helpful to the adsorption of sodium oleate and the flotation separation of spodumene from silicates, but the dissolution of Al has the opposite effect.