Abstract:A highly selective collector SNS(Sodium Naphthene Sulfonate) has been developed and flotation behaviours of fluorite and hematite of Baotou complex mine using SNS as collector have been studied. The separation mechanism of fluorite from hematite was investigated by IR, microelectrophoresis , analysis of adsorption on mineral surfaces and solution chemistry. It was found that the adsorption of water glass and SNS on the mineral surface result in the variation of zeta-potential, the adsorption of SNS on the mineral surface is to a great extent a physical process in the acid media, and a chemical process in the alkaline media. There exist different active species of water glass in the solution of different pH and the species have different adsorptability for fluorite and hemitite at same pH. In pH= 6～9. 5, using SNS as collector, the two minerals would be separated because hematite which adsorbed more water glass than fluorite was depressed.

Key words: flotation mechanism sodium naphthene sulfonate fluorite hematite