Detrimental effect of dissolved natural organic matter on molybdenite flotation

Dissolved natural organic matter (NOM) is ubiquitous in aquatic environments, and polysaccharides and proteins are two commonly existing components of NOM. In this study, we employed sodium alginate (SA), which is a model polysaccharide, and bovine serum albumin (BSA), which is a model protein, to investigate the effect and mechanism of the two NOM components on molybdenite flotation. The results of the flotation test and contact angle measurement demonstrated that both the two NOM components could result in reductions in the flotation recovery and surface hydrophobicity of molybdenite, and reductions due to BSA were significantly more than those due to SA. The results from the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and microcalorimetry demonstrated that both the two NOM components could be adsorbed onto the molybdenite surfaces. The adsorption of BSA onto the molybdenite surfaces was stronger than that of SA. This study revealed that the two NOM components in process water (polysaccharides and proteins) can introduce a detrimental effect on molybdenite flotation.

Automated summary

In this study, the effect and mechanism of two components of dissolved natural organic matter (NOM), polysaccharides and proteins, on molybdenite flotation were investigated using sodium alginate (SA) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) as model compounds. The results showed that both polysaccharides and proteins could reduce the flotation recovery and surface hydrophobicity of molybdenite, with BSA having a more significant effect. The adsorption of both NOM components onto molybdenite surfaces was confirmed through various analytical techniques, with BSA showing stronger adsorption. This study revealed the detrimental effect of polysaccharides and proteins in process water on molybdenite flotation.