Structure-activity relationship and mechanisms of reagents used in scheelite flotation

Effects of carboxylic acid collector, benzohydroxamic acid (BHA), sodium hexametaphosphate (SHAP), sodium silicate, and oxalic acid on scheelite flotation were studied through flotation tests, quantum chemical calculation, and flotation solution computational chemistry. In terms of the calculation results, the relationship between chemical reactions occurring on the scheelite surface and molecular structures of the reagents were analyzed. The results show that BHA and carboxylic acid collectors interact with scheelite in different forms and the recovery of scheelite using sodium oleate as collector declines successively from SHAP, sodium silicate, to oxalic acid. Moreover, it is found that the performance of depressant in scheelite flotation is directly related to the group electronegativity, indicating that the latter is a dominant factor that determines the former. These findings will be helpful to the academic research communities of scheelite flotation.