Possibility of Recoating of Impurities on Product Kaolin during Froth Flotation - HRTEM-EDS Study

Abstract

Attempts were made to remove the Fe, Ti minerals from Gujarat kaolin by SC-HGMS and ultraflotation to improve the optical properties. The removal of Fe was higher by SC-HGMS, but that of Ti was almost the same by both techni-ques. The Fe content of the products was relatively low, but the brightness was lower than the expected. A drastic improvement in brightness was observed for the SC-HGMS product compared to the ultra flotation product. One of the probable reasons for the low enhancement in brightness by flotation was thought to be recoating of the impurities on the clay surface during flotation. XPS study conducted on the flotation product ruled out the possibility of such a coating. HRTEM-EDS analyses showed that most of the titania is present in the form of anatase particles of very small size. A part of the Fe forms independent parti-cles of goethite /hematite having nano size. Rest of the Fe is found to be closer to anatase or kaolinite particles either as a part of the structure or nano sized independ-ent particles adhering to the surface and hence is not easily separated. The ultra fine grains of Fe stained ana-tase remaining in the kaolinite surface after flotation is found to have a strong pigment effect. During flotation, high shear energy is given for dispersion and conditioning which is possibly reducing the particle size to sub-micron / nano level. The dissatisfying brightness of the flotation product is attributed to the presence of these fine / colloidal impurities. Fe content in the product samples is relatively low and its influence on brightness is probably smaller than that of the Fe stained anatase. The organic matter and ferriferous smectite identified in the sample even at small percentages may also have a pig-ment effect due to their dark color and colloidal distri-bution.