New applications of deep eutectic solvents for separation of quartz and magnetite

Highlights: • DES is prepared using aliquat 336 and lactic acid via hydrogen bonding. • DES is superior to dodecylamine in reverse flotation of magnetite. • Compared with magnetite, DES preferentially floats quartz. A aliquat 336/lactic acid deep eutectic solvent was used for the reverse flotation of magnetite for the first time. The deep eutectic solvent increased the total iron content of the feed ore from 53.02% to 66.80%, which was better than dodecylamine. The FTIR, zeta potential, contact angle, and XPS showed that the deep eutectic solvent was easilier adsorbed on the quartz surface and improved its hydrophobicity, compared with magnetite. Thus, the deep eutectic solvent was a promissing flotation collector agent, guiding the design of the multifunctional flotation collector agent.