Innovative utilization of 2-(4-Butoxyphenyl)acetohydroxamic acid as collector for the selective separation of rhodochrosite from calcite and dolomite

[Display omitted] •2-(4-Butoxyphenyl)acetohydroxamic acid(BAHA) was firstly introduced as rhodochrosite collector.•BAHA performed an excellent selectivity for separating rhodochrosite from calcite and dolomite.•The adsorption activity of BAHA with rhodochrosite was stronger than calcite and dolomite.•BAHA chemisorbed onto rhodochrosite surface together with electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding. A novel collector 2-(4-Butoxyphenyl)acetohydroxamic acid (BAHA) was actively considered in the flotation of rhodochrosite. Flotation behaviors and BAHA adsorption concerning rhodochrosite, calcite and dolomite were systematacially investigated through microflotation tests, adsorption experiments, zeta potential measurements, FTIR and XPS analyses. Microflotation results showed that rhodochrosite performed a better floatability than calcite and dolomite at pH 8.0–10.0. Also, the adsorption amounts of BAHA collector on the rhodochrosite surface were obviously greater than those of calcite and dolomite. The results of zeta potential, FTIR and XPS analyses indicated that BAHA adsorbed onto rhodochrosite surfaces through chemisorption, electrostatic attraction and intermolecular hydrogen bonding, chemisorption and electrostatic attraction for calcite, and only chemisorption for dolomite. The interaction mechanisms between BAHA collector and mineral surfaces were responsible for the differences in the BAHA adsorption and floatability between rhodochrosite and two gangues. The flotation separation tests of three minerals confirmed that the rhodochrosite concentrate with Mn grade of 24.64% and recovery of 87.94% could be obtained. BAHA is a high selective collector and can realize the flotation separation of rhodochrosite against dolomite and calcite.