A SANS study of the adsorption of guar gum on talc surfaces

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dc.contributor.authorCram, SLen_AU
dc.contributor.authorKnott, RBen_AU
dc.contributor.authorHanley, HJMen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2007-11-22T04:18:10Zen_AU
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-30T04:29:35Zen_AU
dc.date.available2007-11-22T04:18:10Zen_AU
dc.date.available2010-04-30T04:29:35Zen_AU
dc.date.issued2001-10en_AU
dc.description.abstractReagents based on guar gum are commonly used as 'gangue' depressants in the flotation of sulphides from ores containing naturally floating layer silicate minerals such as talc. Nickel sulphide ores processed by WMC Resources Ltd. at the Leinster Nickel Operations in Western Australia typically contain 1-2 % talc. Guar gum added to the flotation cell depresses the talc by adsorbing onto its surface thereby reducing its hydrophobic nature. Guar gum is a long chain polysaccharide containing many hydroxyl functional groups along the length of its chain. The ratio of chain length to the number of hydroxyl and carboxyl groups causes the guar gum to be selective in depressing talc rather than nickel sulphide minerals. Small angle neutron scattering (SANS) it is an excellent tool for probing structures in the nano length scale. Unlike X-rays neutrons are sensitive to low atomic weight elements especially hydrogen and therefore organics. Using SANS it is possible to contrast different parts of a composite sample to get information on spatial arrangements. These qualities make SANS an obvious choice for studying the adsorption of guar gum on the surface of talc in aqueous solutions. Complimentary SANS experiments were carried out in Australia at the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and in the United States at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST). Initially talc samples were studied 'as supplied' however as experiments proceeded attempts to reduce the particle size and distribution were carried out by milling and centrifuging procedures. Contrast matching techniques were used to observed the scattering behaviour of talc with and without the presence of guar gum and vice versa over a total q range of 0.002 - 0.1 Angstroms - 1. The size of the talc particles appears to affect the scattering behaviour not only of talc but also of guar gum in the same solutions. This implies that the structure of the guar gum is strongly influenced by the dimensions of the talc and could be taken as indirect evidence of adsorption of guar gum onto the talc surface. Although adsorption has been implied a model of the adsorption mechanism cannot be proposed from these preliminary results. In order to achieve this more homogeneous talc samples need to be studied; in particular the poly dispersity of and impurities in the samples must be addressed.en_AU
dc.identifierANSTO-E-746en_AU
dc.identifier.citationCram, S. L., Knott, R. B., & Hanley, H. (2001). A SANS study of the adsorption of guar gum on talc surfaces (ANSTO/E746). Lucas Heights, NSW: Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation.en_AU
dc.identifier.govdoc169en_AU
dc.identifier.isbn0642599939en_AU
dc.identifier.issn10307745en_AU
dc.identifier.placeofpublicationLucas Heights, New South Walesen_AU
dc.identifier.urihttp://apo.ansto.gov.au/dspace/handle/10238/272en_AU
dc.language.isoen_auen_AU
dc.publisherAustralian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisationen_AU
dc.subjectAdsorptionen_AU
dc.subjectScatteringen_AU
dc.subjectTalcen_AU
dc.subjectElectron microscopyen_AU
dc.titleA SANS study of the adsorption of guar gum on talc surfacesen_AU
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