Beneficiation of high grade feldspar minerals using inverse flotation techniques

The beneficiation of feldspathic minerals mined from relatively rich albitite occurrences often involves the resort to technically complex and expensive treatments such as selective flotation to remove the impurities. The most widely used techniques rely on inverse flotation either at neutral pH using carboxylic collectors or in acid medium with phosphoric esters. Based on experimental results and the authors’ experience the advantages and disadvantages of the two methods are discussed. Some criteria for the choice of the technically and/or economically more convenient technique are suggested.