Abstract:Solution chemical equilibria involving flotation agents (hereafter flotagents), minerals and solution play a crucial role in determining the behavior of complex flotation systems. Salt-type minerals such as calcite, apatite etc are sparingly soluble in aqueous solution and farm dissolved mineral species in bulk solution. It has been found that such dissolved species interact with the minerals, and often lead to surface conversion of-the minerals.In addition, they can interact with various flotagents and lead to surface or bulk precipitation and loss of selectivity in the flotation. Relevant solution equilibria of these salt-type minerals and their interactions with conventional and structurally modilied reagents are discussed. Better selectivity in their flotation can be achieved by controlling such interactions and manipulating the solution chemical equilibria.

Key words: Salt-type mineral  oleate  sulfonate  solution chemistry