A new combined collector of sodium oleate and 1,12-dodecanediamine for efficient flotation separation of spodumene from feldspar

A new combined collector of NaOL and 1,12-Dodecanediamine (DA122) was used for efficient flotation of spodumene from feldspar. The disparities in mineral flotation efficacy between the combined collectors of NaOL/1,12-Dodecanediamine and NaOL/Dodecylamine (DDA), as well as the underlying mechanisms, were comprehensively analyzed by the measurements of flotation experiments, surface tension, adsorption amount measurement, structure and frontier molecular orbital analysis and adsorption model calculation. The results of mixed minerals micro-flotation indicate that the Li2O recovery of 91.64 % was achieved using NaOL and DA122 combined collector, which represents an 11.54 % increase in Li2O recovery compared to using the NaOL and DDA combined collector. NaOL and DA122 combined collector exhibits a lower critical micelle concentration (CMC) and the greater adsorption amount on the surface of spodumene. NaOL and DA122 combined collector demonstrates higher reactivity and adsorption energy on the surface of spodumene, resulting in higher hydrophobicity of spodumene because DA122 possesses stronger ability to lose electrons than DDA, thus leading to higher recovery of spodumene.