This study showed that quartz can be activated with Zn(II) and
Pb(II) ions, and floated with oleic acid in the pH region 9–11.5 for
Zn(II), and 6.5–10.5 for Pb(II), where zinc and lead form positively
charged hydroxides that adsorb on the negatively charged quartz surface.
This activation in the given zinc oxide ore is much more pronounced
for zinc than it is for lead. The increased quartz flotation
with Zn(II) and Pb(II) is the result of the maximum adsorption of
oleic acid on quartz which may be attributed to the interaction
between RCOO− and zinc on the quartz surface, and it can be
assumed that the adsorption of oleic acid takes place by an ion
exchange mechanism.