An Efficiency Evaluation of Iron Concentrates Flotation Using Rhamnolipid Biosurfactant as a Frothing Reagent

Abstract

The effect of a rhamnolipid biosurfactant produced by a Pseudomonas aeruginosa MA01 strain on desulfurization of iron concentrates was studied. Surface tension measurement and frothing characterization indicated better surface activity and frothability of rhamnolipid compared to methyl isobutyl carbinol (MIBC) as an operating frother. Reverse flotation tests using rhamnolipid either as a sole frother or mixed with MIBC, showed that the desulfurization process is more efficient at pH 4.5 and high concentration of rhamnolipid in the presence of MIBC. However, under these conditions water recovery decreased due to the change in rhamnolipid aggregates morphology. Results from the present study seemed promising to introduce the biosurfactant from Pseudomonas aeruginosa as a new frother.

Effect of an acetonized pyrolysis oil recycled from spent-car tires on coal flotation performance

“…Then, water was added to the system and cell was filled to a set level. Subsequently, a suitable and required dosage of flotation reagents and pyrolysis oil were added to the system and were conditioned for another 5 min (Khoshdast and Sam, 2012). Eventually, the cell was aerated and for 3 min long, the formed forth was conveyed to the concentrate vessel.…”

Valorization of copper smelter slag through the recovery of metal values by a synergistic bioprocess system of bio‐flotation and bio‐leaching

“…Bacillus polymyxa was used in the flotation of sulfide minerals (Sharma et al., 2001). Amongst the biomolecules of microbial origin, bio‐surfactant molecules are extensively studied for the mineral flotation process (Didyk & Sadowski, 2012; Khoshdast & Sam, 2012). Adsorption of microbial cell and/or bio‐surfactant molecules to a mineral surface alters its surface properties and facilitates the flotation process.…”

“…The stricter environmental regulations with rising concerns for recycling of mineral wastes are encouraging the application of microbial green technology in mineral processing industries. With the recent developments, microbial flotation processes have been developed by using microbes and microbial metabolites (proteins, surfactants and extracellular polymeric substances [EPS]) as alternative green reagents for the mineral flotation process (Behera & Mulaba‐Bafubiandi, 2017; Didyk & Sadowski, 2012; Khoshdast & Sam, 2012; Singh et al., 2007). Application of microbial metabolites such as bio‐surfactants, exopolysaccharides, proteins and nucleic acids as mineral flotation reagents are recently reviewed by Behera and Mulaba‐Bafubiandi (2017).…”