Analysis of quartz floatability using design of experiments

Abstract Quartz floatability in cationic reverse flotation depends on the suitable choice of surfactant type and the conditions under which they are applied. The design of experiments (DOE) allows the evaluation of process variables, in a structured and independent way, with statistical validation and a limited number of tests. Tests of microflotation of quartz, in the size range -150 +75 µm, using factorial design of experiments, showed that etherdiamine leads to higher level of quartz floatability than ethermonoamine, favored by increase in collector concentration, at the high level of pH tested (11.0). Floatability values above 90% were achieved with the use of 3 mg/L of ether diamine for both pH levels, while with ether monoamine the target was reached only at pH 11.