Environmental factors and water scarcity have led to the recirculation of greater quantities of water in mineral processing plants. Recycling water or using alternate water sources, e.g. seawater, for flotation can result in an increase in ionic concentrations and lower water quality. Water recirculation and lower water quality can increase ionic strength which can cause corrosion, scale formation, changes in water recovery to the froth phase, precipitation of species on the mineral surfaces causing accidental activation or passivation, agglomeration of particles (double layer compression), loss in selectivity in flotation-lower grade and recovery, froth persistence, and impact bubble-particle interaction. However, in certain cases the effect of ionic strength is not the main factor affecting flotation; reagent type and dosage can have a more significant impact. The ionic species, temperature and their interactions can affect flotation significantly. Certain ionic species like sulfate, sodium, calcium, base metals, chlorine and thiosulphates have threshold concentrations. If these concentration are exceeded, flotation would be negatively effected. The solution chemistry of dissolved species and ionic strength in water is discussed in terms of effects on decay length (double layer compression) on particles, froth properties, threshold concentrations, water film destabilisation, water recovery to froth phase, bubble properties, surface chemistry (precipitates formation and adhesion on particles) and metallurgy. The effects of ionic strength, temperature, species in solution and their interactions on mineral flotation, and sources of variation in water quality are also presented in this article. This review will serve as fundamental knowledge for further study on the effects of water quality. Research gaps and challenges are also discussed.

中文翻译：

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浮选介质的离子强度及其影响


环境因素和水资源短缺导致矿物加工厂中大量的水再循环。回收水或使用替代水源（例如海水）进行浮选会导致离子浓度增加和水质降低。水再循环和较低的水质会增加离子强度，从而导致腐蚀、结垢、水回收到泡沫相的变化、矿物表面的物质沉淀导致意外活化或钝化、颗粒团聚（双层压缩）、浮选-较低品位和回收中的选择性损失、泡沫持久性和冲击气泡-颗粒相互作用。然而，在某些情况下，离子强度的影响并不是影响浮选的主要因素;试剂类型和剂量可能会产生更显著的影响。离子种类、温度及其相互作用会显着影响浮选。某些离子物质，如硫酸盐、钠、钙、贱金属、氯和硫代硫酸盐具有阈值浓度。如果超过这些浓度，浮选将受到负面影响。讨论了水中溶解物质的溶液化学和离子强度对颗粒的衰变长度（双层压缩）、泡沫特性、阈值浓度、水膜不稳定、水恢复到泡沫相、气泡特性、表面化学（沉淀物形成和粘附在颗粒上）和冶金学的影响。本文还介绍了离子强度、温度、溶液中的物质及其相互作用对矿物浮选的影响，以及水质变化的来源。 本文将为进一步研究水质的影响提供基础知识。还讨论了研究差距和挑战。