Comparison Effect of Long Chain Cationic Surfactant in Mechanism of Ore Quartz

Abstract

The objective of this study is to compare the effect of long chain hydrocarbon of three types cationic surfactant in ore quartz flotation system. The cationic surfactants that are utilized in thus study are Dolecyltrimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB). The cation section (ammonium group) of these three cationic surfactants is similar in structure but difference in hydrocarbon chain length. The results showed that the surfactant having the longest hydrocarbon chain (CTAB) utilizes less concentration than other surfactants in order to reach the same flotation efficiency. It is also found that the flotation efficiency is related to the adsorption region and the quart aggregate. The maximum flotation efficiency of all three surfactants are observed in region II of adsorption isotherm curve. In addition, these three different surfactants showed their behaviors in the same trend but their behaviors strongly depend upon the concentration of each kind of surfactant.