Hydrophobic agglomeration flotation of fine cassiterite induced by kerosene and sodium oleate

In this study, the effect of kerosene and sodium oleate (NaOL) on inducing hydrophobic agglomeration flotation of fine cassiterite was investigated through the micro-flotation tests, particle size distribution and morphological analysis, zeta potential and contact angle measurements. The results indicated that adding kerosene before NaOL could obtain a higher recovery than adding NaOL before kerosene. The agglomerates induced by adding kerosene before NaOL was dense and regular in structure with larger particle size distribution and stronger surface hydrophobicity, which jointly contributed to its higher flotation recovery. Furtherly, the extended DLVO theory calculation was carried out to explain the agglomeration behaviour of fine cassiterite under different reagents. The results convinced that under the reaction of NaOL before kerosene or kerosene before NaOL, hydrophobic interaction and sufficient kinetic energy input were necessary to form agglomerates, and the attraction effect between cassiterite particles under the reaction of kerosene before NaOL was the strongest.