Flotation Selection Process
Flotation selection is an important process for the efficient removal of impurities from ore or for mineral separation. Flotation selection involves passing a milled ore slurry or product through the cells of a flotation circuit, whereby hydrophobic particles of the desired mineral become attached to air bubbles that float to the top of the material, allowing for the recovery of the mineral.
The flotation selection process begins with the crushing and grinding of ore to a fine size. This is done in order to liberate the valuable mineral particles from the rock matrix. Once this has been completed, the pulp is conditioned in water with a reagent. The reagent forms a foam which has a positive charge that attracts the negatively charged mineral particles.
The performance of a flotation selection process is largely dependant on the physical-chemical properties of the reagent used. In some cases, modifiers are added to improve the wetting ability and chemical groups of the reagent in order to better interact with and affect the physical behavior of the mineral particles and improve the overall performance of the flotation selection process.
Once the pulp and reagents have been conditioned, the slurry is then transferred to the flotation cell. The pulp and reagents are vigorously aerated as they are introduced into the cell. The air bubbles mix with the pulp and reagents and the hydrophobic particles attach to the air bubbles. These particle-bubble aggregates are then continually directed to the surface of the cell.
The flotation selection process is then enhanced by the addition of a frother to the top of the flotation cell. The frother reduces the surface tension, helping to create a stable froth. The froth then overflows the launder and is collected in a froth container where it is monitored for quality.
The flotation selection process has been used for more than a century and is still widely used to separate minerals from ore or to separate minerals of different specific gravities. It is an economical, efficient, selective and rapid method of separating particles of differing hydrophobicity. The process can concentrate particles of different relative sizes, densities and shapes, making it suitable for a wide range of applications.
Overall, the flotation selection process is a reliable, cost-effective way to separate different minerals while allows for the extraction of valuable materials. It has the flexibility to treat various types of ores and minerals and with the proper selection and conditioning of reagents and frothers, excellent recoveries and separations can be achieved.
