Abstract: Slime has a great impact on rutile flotation. In order to efficiently reduce the slime effect on rutile flotation, test research was conducted on rutile depression in reverse flotation. The result shows that a froth product with a yield of 31.34% can be discarded in the reverse flotation with sodium oleate added by starvation method, where rutile is depressed by aluminum sulphate. The froth product of the reverse flotation has a rutile grade of 0.39%, leading to only a low rutile loss of 6.23%. The sand products has a rutile grade that is improved from original 1.96% to 2.68%, and is activated after the reverse flotation and treated by positive flotation, from which a rougher rutile concentrate grading 20.30% at a recovery of 83.88% is obtained. The reverse flotation can remove 74.79% -0.010mm fraction, creating a favorable condition for the positive flotation of rutile.

Key words: Rutile, Reverse flotation, Removal rate