This work deals with the fundamental aspects of apatite and quartz bioflotation using R. opacus bacteria as a bioreagent. It was observed that the flotability of both minerals depends on the pH value and the mineral particle size. The maximum flotability of both minerals was presented at a pH value of 5, achieving values of 90% and 14% for apatite and quartz, respectively, after seven minutes of flotation. The kinetics analysis showed that the smaller the apatite particle size, the lower its bioflotation rate value. On the other hand, the smaller the quartz particle size, the higher its bioflotation rate value. The first-order kinetic model better fitted the experimental data of both minerals, and a logarithmic relationship between particle size and kinetic rate constant was observed.
bioflotation; bioreagents; particle size; rate constant; apatite; quartz
