Buffering of pulp pH and its influence on process water chemistry during iron ore flotation

It is inevitable for the occurrences of pulp pH buffering during pH control in flotation as the minerals with acidic/alkali properties tend to interact with pH modifiers and restore the pulp pH. This could result in some disturbing ions and alter the water/pulp chemistry. The purpose of this study was to identify the influences of pulp pH buffering on process water chemistry through a series of pH buffering tests, bench flotation experiments, ore dissolution tests, zeta potential measurement, and Xray diffraction (XRD) analysis. The built-up and distribution of the dominant cations in the process water from different locations in an industrial flotation system of the iron ore were analyzed and recorded by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission (ICP-OES) at a period of about six months when the operations were stable. The data showed that a near five-minute buffer of pulp pH at a range from near 7.9 to 8.9 occurred before it reached a stable value. At this period, the dissolution of Ca/Mg from the iron ore was dominant. And, the pulp pH at a lower value tended to induce more dissolved $Ca^{2+}$ and $Mg^{2+}$ ions. These divalent cations seem to have different influences on the flotation properties of iron oxides at the same concentrations, indicating a positive effect on the recovery of iron oxides with the presence of $Mg^{2+}$ ions but an opposite effect if $Ca^{2+}$ ions occurred. The presence of sulfate, however, tended to restore the floatability of silicate depressed by $Ca^{2+}$ ions.