Effect of modified starch on separation of fluorite from barite using sodium oleate

In this study, a modified starch was utilized to selectively separate barite from fluorite. The results of flotation tests showed that highly selective separation of fluorite from barite was obtained when 250 mg/dm3 of modified starch and 13.16×10−5 mol/dm3 sodium oleate was used in neutral solutions. FTIR spectra results showed that the modified starch can adsorb on the fluorite and barite surfaces. Zeta potential analyses indicated that the modified starch had little effect on adsorption of sodium oleate on the fluorite surface, although it interfered with the adsorption of sodium oleate on the barite surface. Contact angle measurements results corresponded well with the flotation results.