Adsorption of cationic collectors and water on muscovite (0 0 1) surface: A molecular dynamics simulation study

A series of molecular dynamics simulations have been performed employing PCFF_phyllosilicates force field. The interaction energies between water molecules/ammonium ions and the muscovite (0 0 1) surface are computed. Results drawn from the calculation show that ammonium ions have thermodynamic advantages to resist the hydration layer sufficiently for effective flotation to occur. Adsorption sites of water molecules and amine ions have also been considered in detail.