Influência do método de saponificação de óleo vegetal amazônico na flotabilidade da apatita

Abstract

Investigations demonstrated the technical viability of the use of fatty acid salts, obtained via the alkaline hydrolysis of oils from Amazonian plant species, as collectors in phosphate ore flotation. However, the need to render them water soluble by saponification reaction, which is performed at high temperature and long reaction time, hampers their industrial use. Thus, the main objective of this study is to evaluate different methods of saponification of the vegetable oil extracted from the buriti pulp, originated from the Amazon rainforest, analyzing the influence of the method in the floatability of apatite. In the saponification reactions, temperature and time of reaction, water/alcohol ratios, and oil/hydroxide ratios were varied. The floatability criterion used was the microflotation test in modified Hallimond tube with height extension to avoid entrainment. The floatability results suggested a saponification method with 20 minutes reaction time, oil/hydroxide ratio of 1:0.3, alcohol/water ratio of 1:0, and temperature of reaction of 55 °C.