A new approach in the flotation of monazite using a lanthanum salt as a catalyzer of the carboxylate collector adsorption

A Geneyton (1) , L O Filippov (2) , Nour-Eddine Menad (3)

1 ERAMET RESEARCH
2 GeoRessources
3 BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières (BRGM)

In this study, we developed a new approach of lanthanum chloride and carboxylate collector combination with the aim of improving the selective and effective collector adsorption onto the rare-earth phosphate minerals. Bubble/particle adhesion tests with sodium oleate collector were performed indicating a higher mineral surface hydrophobicity when using lanthanum chloride. Flotation experiments were performed with sodium oleate showing enhanced monazite recovery and flotation rate in presence of lanthanum chloride. The best flotation performance was obtained when the lanthanum chloride was added prior to the collector. With regards to the performed XPS study and the literature data, it was suggested that lanthanum ions or lanthanum species strongly interact with the under-coordinated phosphate groups on the monazite surface playing a role of a bridge between the monazite surface and the carboxylate group of the collector. We also observed that the lanthanum chloride dosage and mode of addition must be strictly controlled to avoid a decrease of the availability of the collector and thus a decrease of the monazite recovery and flotation rate.

Mots clés: Rare earth minerals; monazite; flotation; lanthanum salts; adsorption; activation; carboxylate; oleate

Domaines: Génie des procédés; Chimie analytique; Cristallographie; Génie chimique; Chimie inorganique; Matériaux; Chimie organique

A Geneyton, L O Filippov, Nour-Eddine Menad. A new approach in the flotation of monazite using a lanthanum salt as a catalyzer of the carboxylate collector adsorption. Developments in the Processing of the "Hi-Tech" Metals: Hi-Tech Metals '18, Nov 2018, Cape Town, South Africa. ⟨hal-02572340⟩