Role of the hydrocarbon chain in anionic flotation of calcite

The response of calcite to flotation with saturated fatty acids and alkyl sulfonates of various chain lengths is presented. The amount of collector required for flotation is shown to decrease systematically with increasing carbon content from 8 to 12-carbon atoms per molecule. This systematic flotation response is correlated with the solubilities of the calcium-collector salts, which were established with a nephelometer. The 14-carbon collectors deviate from this systematic behavior, and no flotation is possible with the 16-carbon homologs. As determined by infrared analysis, the mechanism of collector adsorption involves a specific chemical reaction between the collector and the surface.