Flotation is the process of collecting and separating hydrophobic particles from a slurry of hydrophilic particles. This process is currently used in a wide range of industries for various purposes. In the mineral industry, it is used to process ore and collect precious metals, minerals and other substances. In the chemical and pharmaceutical industry, it is typically used to separate organic from inorganic compounds. In the food and beverage industry, flotation is used to separate solids from liquids.
The standard flotation process begins by adding a surfactant to a slurry of particles, which are then agitated. The surfactant enables a differential surface stress between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic particles in the slurry. Once agitation is complete, the hydrophobic particles attach to the bubbles and rise to the surface, leaving the hydrophilic particles behind. The hydrophobic particles are then collected and separated from the slurry.
The process of flotation can be used in a number of ways. In conventional flotation, the surfactant is used to allow the hydrophobic particles to attach to the bubbles and float to the surface. In reverse flotation, the particles attract to the bubbles instead of the hydrophobic ones. This process is typically used for the purification of ore or as an initial processing step for fine-grained metals or minerals.
Another type of flotation is referred to as mixed flotation. This process combines forward and reverse flotation steps to separate hydrophobic and hydrophilic particles. It is often used to purify minerals, metals and ore and to separate materials that have combined together due to chemical reactions. The process is more complex than conventional and reverse flotation, due to the multiple steps required.
In the first step, the surfactant is added to the slurry. This causes a reaction between the hydrophilic and hydrophobic particles, causing some of the hydrophobic particles to attach to the bubbles. In the second step, the slurry is then filtered to separate the hydrophobic particles from the hydrophilic particles.
The third and final step involves the addition of a chemical, such as a collector, to the filtered slurry. This causes the hydrophobic particles to become active and attach to the bubbles, which allows them to rise to the surface. The hydrophobic particles can then be collected and separated from the slurry.
Mixed flotation is a useful process for separating materials that have undergone a chemical reaction. It is also used for the purification of ore, minerals and metals. In the mineral industry, it is typically used as an initial processing step before fine-grained minerals and metals can be collected. In many industries, the process is an essential part of the production process and is used to separate different types of materials.
