Surface Activation and Directional Modification in the Technological Properties of Natural Perovskite Under the Action of High-Power Electromagnetic Pulses

One of the main complexities of production of a high-quality perovskitePerovskite concentrate at its high recovery (perovskitePerovskite flotationFlotation, as a result of which a perovskitePerovskite concentrate with a content of 49–50% TiO2TiO released) is connected with the similar physicochemical and technological (namely, flotationFlotation) properties of perovskitePerovskite, calcite and olivine. Application of high-energy (pulsed-power) technologies in processing of refractory ores enables efficient softening and selective disintegration of finely disseminated mineral complexes, and enhances contrast between the physicochemical and flotationFlotation properties. In this paper, we report the results of experimental studies on nonthermal effect of high-power nanosecond electromagnetic pulses on the surface morphology, structural, physicochemical and flotationFlotation properties of natural perovskitePerovskite from one of the Russia deposit. Using the methods of analytical electron microscopy (SEM–EDX) and microhardnessMicrohardness (Vickers test), we observed the formation of deep parallel microcracks, and the subparallel pyramidal protrusions on the perovskitePerovskite surface. The morphological changes caused a monotonic decrease in the microhardnessMicrohardness of the mineral with an increase of the high-voltage treatment times; the relative change of the microhardnessMicrohardness changed from 20 to 33%. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIRFourier transform infra-red (FTIR)) data showed that short pulsed treatment times lead to the partial hydration of damaged mineral surface. The electromagnetic pulses perovskitePerovskite pretreatment caused the following changes in the physicochemical properties of the perovskitePerovskite: we made a shift in the electrokinetic potential towards positive values, an increase in the contact angle, as well as the improved adsorption of the collector and the higher flotationFlotation activity of perovskitePerovskite by 10–15%.