Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 16, 2025
10:42
Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass with Low-cost Ionic Liquids
Published on: August 10, 2016
18.1K
Foaming Properties of Lignosulfonates in the Flotation Process
Jhon Chique1, Lina Uribe2,3, Marek Pawlik4
1Department of Metallurgical Engineering, University of Concepcion, Concepción 4040371, Chile.
Polymers
|September 9, 2023
Summary
Lignosulfonates offer an eco-friendly alternative to sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH) for molybdenite flotation. These compounds exhibit surface activity and influence foamability, bubble size, and water recovery, impacting flotation efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy
- Surface Chemistry and Colloid Science
Background:
- Traditional copper and molybdenite flotation using sodium hydrosulfide (NaSH) poses environmental risks due to toxic H2S gas emissions and odor.
- Lignosulfonates have shown potential for depressing molybdenite, but their impact on flotation frothing properties remains understudied.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the foaming properties of three distinct lignosulfonate samples (NaLS, CaLS, KLS) in the context of mineral flotation.
- To evaluate the influence of lignosulfonates on surface tension, foamability, bubble size distribution, and water recovery.
Main Methods:
- Surface tension measurements were conducted across varying pH levels.
- Foamability was assessed using the dynamic foamability index (DFI).
- Bubble size distributions and water recovery were determined through flotation experiments in a two-phase system.
Main Results:
- All tested lignosulfonates exhibited surface activity, which decreased with increasing pH and correlated with anionicity and molecular weight.
- Sodium lignosulfonate (NaLS) demonstrated the highest dynamic foamability index (DFI) compared to calcium lignosulfonate (CaLS) and kraft lignin lignosulfonate (KLS).
- Lignosulfonates significantly influenced bubble size, with KLS and NaLS showing the strongest effects on water recovery, consistent with surface tension and foamability findings.
Conclusions:
- Lignosulfonates possess inherent surface activity and foam-modifying capabilities relevant to mineral flotation processes.
- The tested lignosulfonates, particularly NaLS and KLS, show promise as frothers or modifiers in flotation, potentially offering a more environmentally benign alternative to NaSH.
- Further research into optimizing lignosulfonate structure and application is warranted for enhanced molybdenite and copper sulfide flotation.
Related Concept Videos
01:06Coagulation
328
Colloidal solids are solid particles suspended in solution. They are usually negatively charged, attracting a compact primary layer of positively charged ions, which attract more counterions to form an electrical double layer. Electrostatic repulsion between the charged double layers prevents the particles from colliding, stabilizing the colloids. These solids are often undesirable because they can contain toxins that are difficult to remove. Coagulation is a technique that helps aggregate and...
328
03:00Solubility
17.5K
Solution, Solubility, and Solubility Equilibrium
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules,...
A solution is a homogeneous mixture composed of a solvent, the major component, and a solute, the minor component. The physical state of a solution—solid, liquid, or gas—is typically the same as that of the solvent. Solute concentrations are often described with qualitative terms such as dilute (of relatively low concentration) and concentrated (of relatively high concentration).
In a solution, the solute particles (molecules,...
17.5K
04:01Factors Affecting Solubility
33.5K
Compared with pure water, the solubility of an ionic compound is less in aqueous solutions containing a common ion (one also produced by dissolution of the ionic compound). This is an example of a phenomenon known as the common ion effect, which is a consequence of the law of mass action that may be explained using Le Chȃtelier’s principle. Consider the dissolution of silver iodide:
33.5K
01:09Colloidal precipitates
616
The high insolubility of some precipitates can result in an unfavorable relative supersaturation. This can lead to colloidal particles with a large surface-to-mass ratio, where adsorption is promoted. For instance, in the precipitation of silver chloride, silver ions are adsorbed on the surface of the colloidal particles, forming a primary layer. This layer attracts ions of opposite charge (such as nitrate ions), forming a diffuse secondary layer of adsorbed ions. This electric double layer...
616
03:22Colloids
17.6K
Children at play often make suspensions such as mixtures of mud and water, flour and water, or a suspension of solid pigments in water known as tempera paint. These suspensions are heterogeneous mixtures composed of relatively large particles that are visible to the naked eye or can be seen with a magnifying glass. They are cloudy, and the suspended particles settle out after mixing. On the other hand, a solution is a homogeneous mixture in which no settling occurs and in which the dissolved...
17.6K
01:08Sample Preparation for Analysis: Advanced Techniques
389
Accurate analysis of complex samples often requires advanced preparation techniques to achieve reliable and reproducible results. Samples containing inorganic or organic materials can be challenging to dissolve or decompose effectively. Standard sample preparation methods include acid digestion, fusion, dry ashing, and wet digestion.
Acid digestion with strong acids is commonly used to dissolve inorganic materials that are insoluble (do not dissolve) in water. This method can be useful for...
Acid digestion with strong acids is commonly used to dissolve inorganic materials that are insoluble (do not dissolve) in water. This method can be useful for...
389