Utilization of Phytic Acid as a Selective Depressant for Quartz Activated by Zinc Ions in Smithsonite Flotation

It is difficult to separate smithsonite from quartz with metal ion activation through flotation using sodium oleate (NaOL) as the collector. The inevitable Zn2+ in process of zinc oxide ore makes separation and more difficult. Thus, this study investigated use phytic acid (PA) a depressant Zn2+-activated while utilizing Microflotation tests indicated that could selectively inhibit without affecting smithsonite. measured zeta potentials revealed existence hindered adsorption surface but had little influence on dissolution scanning electron microscopy coupled energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy analysis dissolve minerals’ surfaces into solution. In conjunction photoelectron results, adsorb onto eliminate active sites for by dissolving