Alkyl dimethyl betaine activates the low-temperature collection capacity of sodium oleate for scheelite

The activation of alkyl dimethyl betaine (ADB) on the collection capacity of sodium oleate (NaOL) at low temperatures was evaluated using flotation tests at different scales. The synergistic mechanism of ADB and NaOL under low temperatures was also explored by infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, surface tension measurement, foam performance test and flotation reagent size measurement. Based on the results of flotation tests, the collector mixed with octadecyl dimethyl betaine (ODB) and NaOL in a mass ratio of 4:96 revealed the most outstanding collection capacity. Under a low temperature of 8 °C–12 ℃, the combined collector could increase the scheelite recovery by 3.48% in the Luanchuan area, which has the largest scheelite concentrate output in China. The mechanism research results confirmed that ODB optimised the collection capability of NaOL by improving the dispersion and foaming performance. Betaine can be introduced as an additive of NaOL to improve the recovery of scheelite at low temperatures.