Current study situation and development on flotation of rare earth in Bayan Obo Mine

The paper narrated the development of industrial flotation of rare earth in Bayan Obo Mine, and summarized the current study situation and development tendency of rare earth flotation reagent and flotation theory at home and abroad. In addition, aiming at problems existing in rare earth flotation, a new stepped process involving flotation of Ca-bearing and Ba-bearing gangue minerals first and then flotation of rare earth minerals was proposed. During this process, Ca-bearing and Ba-bearing gangue minerals such as fluorite and barite were removed from feeding firstly, and then the grade of rare earth improved, the content of gangue minerals reduced. The new process had bright application prospect in rare earth flotation.