Electrokinetic behavior and flotation of kaolinite in CTAB solution

The electrokinetics and flotation behavior of kaolinite in cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) solution were studied. The point of zero charge (PZC) of kaolinite is 4.3. The possible mode of CTAB adsorption on kaolinite is due to Coulombic and Van der Waals forces revealed by zeta-potential and FTIR measurements. The negative zeta potential of kaolinite and the adsorption of cationic collectors on kaolinite were higher in alkaline media than in acidic media. However, the flotation tests show that the kaolinite exhibited much better floatability in the acid range than in the basic pH range in the 2 × 10−4 M CTAB solution. The surface charge of the basal plane is negative and that of the edge is positive in the acid pH range. The aggregation occurs possibly by electrostatic interaction between particles because of different charged based plane and edges, and makes floatability of kaolinite better in an acid pH range.