Innovating an amphoteric collector derived from dodecylamine molecular structure: Facilitating the selective flotation separation of apatite from quartz and dolomite.

[Display omitted] • A novel collector DDALA is developed based on dodecylamine (DDA) structure. • The reagent system composed of DDALA and xanthan gum has better flotation selectivity for apatite/quartz. • DDALA/oleic acid combined collector exhibits different competitive adsorption configurations on apatite and dolomite surfaces. • DDALA/oleic acid molecular aggregates on apatite surface dictate its weakened capturing ability. This paper introduces a novel amphoteric collector, N -dodecyl-β-alanine (DDALA), derived from the molecular structure of dodecylamine, with the incorporation of a propionic acid group. In the study, flotation experiments are undertaken to examine the selectivity of DDALA in apatite flotation. Results demonstrate that DDALA, in combination with xanthan gum (XG) depressant and oleic acid collector successfully accomplishes the reverse flotation separation of apatite from quartz and dolomite. In addition, the synergistic application of zeta potential experiments, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopic tests, and first-principles calculations has been employed to delve into the action mechanisms of DDALA collector and XG depressant. By combining the results with existing research, the paper proposes that the selective adsorption of XG between apatite and quartz surfaces facilitates the selective separation of these two minerals by DDALA collector. Moreover, the intermediate collecting ability of DDALA/oleic acid combined collector for dolomite results from the competitive adsorption of DDALA neutral molecules and oleic acid anions on dolomite surface. Furthermore, the formation of hydrophilic molecular aggregates between DDALA neutral molecules and oleic acid anions on apatite surface diminishes the collecting ability of DDALA/oleic acid combined collector for apatite compared to the individual use of each collector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]