Abstract Grinding for mineral liberation is a prerequisite for a successful flotation separation. Different grinding media produce mineral particles with different surface properties and flotability. In this study, the surface properties and flotation behavior of scheelite particles having a size of − 74 + 38 μm produced by ball and rod mills were studied through single mineral flotation experiment, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, wettability measurement, and X-ray diffraction (XRD) test. The wettability and flotation results showed that, compared to the ball mill particles, the rod mill ones have a lower critical surface tension and thus a greater hydrophobicity when treated with the collector solution, and accordingly perform a better flotation recovery using oleate as the collector. In addition, the rod mill particles have a smaller specific surface area, so the full monolayer adsorption of the collector on their surfaces is achieved at a lower oleate concentration. The SEM analysis further confirmed that mineral grains obtained from the rod mill possess larger elongation and flatness values, which are essentially required for their attachment with air bubbles. The XRD observations revealed that mineral particles from both mills (i.e. ball and rod) have similar exposure intensity of abundant {112} surface. However, the rod mill particles have more {101} surface exposed, while the ball mill particles have more {001} surface exposed, leading to a stronger interaction of the collector with the rod mill particles. Keeping in view the stronger interaction with the collector and the easier attachment to air bubbles, the rod mill scheelite particles are deemed to be more hydrophobic and have a higher flotation recovery. These details studied will help establish the relation between the particle surface properties and the grinding media, and provide guidance for optimizing flotation separation.

中文翻译：

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磨矿介质对白钨矿颗粒表面性质及浮选行为的影响

摘要 矿物分离的研磨是成功浮选分离的先决条件。不同的研磨介质产生具有不同表面性质和可浮性的矿物颗粒。本研究通过单矿物浮选实验、扫描电子显微镜（SEM）观察、润湿性测量和 X-射线衍射（XRD）测试。润湿性和浮选结果表明，与球磨机颗粒相比，棒磨机颗粒在用捕收剂溶液处理时具有更低的临界表面张力，因此具有更大的疏水性，因此以油酸盐为捕收剂进行了更好的浮选回收。此外，棒磨机颗粒具有较小的比表面积，因此在较低的油酸浓度下实现了收集器在其表面上的完全单层吸附。SEM 分析进一步证实，从棒磨机获得的矿物颗粒具有更大的伸长率和平整度值，这对于它们与气泡的附着是必不可少的。XRD 观察表明，来自两个磨机（即球和棒）的矿物颗粒具有相似的暴露强度，丰富的 {112} 表面。然而，棒磨机颗粒有更多的{101}表面暴露，而球磨机颗粒有更多的{001}表面暴露，导致收集器与棒磨机颗粒之间更强的相互作用。考虑到与收集器的更强相互作用和更容易附着气泡，棒磨机白钨颗粒被认为更疏水并且具有更高的浮选回收率。研究的这些细节将有助于建立颗粒表面特性与研磨介质之间的关系，并为优化浮选分离提供指导。