Abstract:It is important to depress diaspore effectively in order to remove silicates from diasporic bauxite. A new water soluble polymer hydroxamic acid starch (HA-starch) was prepared. The effects of the product on the diaspore and kaolinite flotation were investigated and its reactive mechanism was studied by zeta potential measurement and FTIR. The results show that HA-starch can depress diaspore while make positive effect on kaolinite flotation at low pH value(pH below 6). The flotation recovery of diaspore was sharply decreased with the increase of concentration of HA-starch. The chemical adsorption of HA-starch on the surface of diaspore was revealed.

Key words:  hydroxamic acid starch; reverse flotation; diasporic bauxite; desilicate