A pH-responsive flavylium surfactant as a recyclable hydrophobic modifier for selective aggregation and flotation of kaolinite

Abstract

Amidst increasing environmental concerns and the limitations associated with conventional synthetic reagents, the advancement of sustainable and efficient alternatives has emerged as a significant priority in mineral processing applications. In the present study, a bio-molecule-based hydrophobic modifier was introduced as a previously unreported kaolinite collector for the froth flotation separation of kaolinite from calcite. Synthetic yttrium-loaded kaolinite (kaol-Y) was used in single mineral flotation tests, with yttrium serving as a proxy for rare earth elements (REEs). This approach aimed to assess the collector's effectiveness in ionic clay systems containing REEs. Spectroscopic techn..