Flocculation-flotation of ultrafine hematite from quartz using anionic polyacrylamide as a selective flocculant

Abstract

Conventional flotation cells are widely used for concentrating iron ores, yet one major challenge remains – the low recovery rate of ultrafine particles, particularly when processing low-grade deposits. This study explores the application of anionic polyacrylamide (APAM) in hematite and quartz mixtures (D50: 1 μm, feed grade: 27.2 % hematite) to selectively aggregate hematite for enhanced flotation recovery. The role of sodium hexametaphosphate (SHMP) was examined as a dispersant to prevent heterocoagulation and to enhance selective aggregation towards hematite, evaluating its effect on the combined flocculation-flotation performance. Detailed insights are provided into the interactions betw..