Designing starches for increased productivity in mineral flotation (2016-2021)
Abstract
Natural and modified starches are used as depressants and flocculants in mineral flotation, but knowledge of mechanisms describing starch-mineral surface interactions is lacking, particularly with respect to processing base metal sulphides. In this project, the aim is to understand this process and design and develop tailored starch depressant/flocculant biopolymers for mineral beneficiation via the froth flotation process. Newly developed starch characterisation techniques and novel methods for modifying starch structures and functionalities will also be developed. Success in this project will provide new novel manufacturing applications for starch in Australia.
